Hezbollah's Secretary General Naim Qassem delivering his speech on March 13, 2026. (Credit: Screenshot from al-Manar channel)
BEIRUT — Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem delivered a speech Friday evening for "Jerusalem Day," observed each year by the axis of resistance on the last Friday of Ramadan.
This was his second address since the war in Lebanon began on March 2.
Qassem described the conflict as a defensive fight against “Israeli-American aggression,” calling it “an existential threat in every sense.”
He said the 15 months before the current war saw continued Israeli attacks, including targeted assassinations of Hezbollah officials, though the group did not retaliate.
“We often said this aggression had to be stopped and our patience had limits. We considered responding three times, but diplomacy needed a chance,” he said.
According to Qassem, Hezbollah opened the current front on March 2 in response to aggression against Iran and the assassination of their imam. He denied that Hezbollah’s initial rocket salvo triggered the war, calling it merely a way to expose Israel’s plan.
“This operation is a defense of Lebanon, not anyone else,” he added. “We can only confront Israel through resistance, otherwise Lebanon will disappear.”
Qassem criticized Lebanon’s government, saying diplomacy has failed. “The government has not protected sovereignty or citizens; the enemy continues to kill civilians, not fighters,” he said.
He urged authorities “to stop handing out free concessions,” implicitly referring to President Joseph Aoun’s proposal for direct negotiations with Israel, and called on the government to “raise its voice to foil the Israeli plan.”
Assuring that Hezbollah “will go all the way,” Qassem predicted a “long confrontation” and expressed confidence in victory. He challenged Israel, saying, “They do not have the means to achieve their objectives. I say to Defense Minister Israel Katz: if you want to come in, go ahead, but you will not hold the ground.”
Responding to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s threats on his life, Qassem said, “I am not afraid of anything — it is you who should be afraid.”
He concluded, “We are left with only two options: surrender or resist. Surrender would realize the dream of Greater Israel, which we cannot accept. We will go all the way. We will not let the enemy neutralize us or occupy Lebanon. The solution? Israel must stop its aggression, withdraw from Lebanon, and release the detainees.”
