People, including Hezbollah supporters, gather to mourn Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on Feb. 28 in Israeli and U.S. airstrikes, in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, July 8, 2026. (Credit: Mohamed Azakir/Reuters)
SOUTH LEBANON — Shortly before the seventh round of direct Lebanon-Israel talks in Rome, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem renewed his criticism of the negotiations and accused President Joseph Aoun of undermining Lebanon’s unity.
But Qassem also signaled a new openness to Syria’s new leadership, saying he was ready to meet President Ahmad al-Sharaa. The statement marks a shift for Hezbollah, which had been a close ally of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
“Nothing prevents a public meeting between Hezbollah and the Syrian leadership when both parties deem it appropriate,” Qassem said, calling for “brotherly and positive relations” between the two countries.
His comments came after U.S. President Donald Trump called for Damascus to become involved in the conflict with Hezbollah. However, Sharaa has repeatedly ruled out any intention of intervening in Lebanon.
“We reaffirm the importance of cooperation between the Lebanese and Syrian states, as well as the success of Syria in shielding itself against the enemy,” Qassem said, referring to Israel, which occupies parts of Syrian territory.
“We hope refugees will return to Syria with dignity and all their rights. A stable Syria is a support for Lebanon, just as a stable Lebanon is a support for Syria,” he added.
Qassem accuses Aoun of being 'biased and divisive'
Qassem criticized Aoun, who met Trump in Washington on July 21 and reiterated the Lebanese state’s intention to disarm Hezbollah.
Aoun “did not act as an arbiter, nor as a unifier, but had become biased and divisive, which is incompatible with his role and Lebanon’s strength,” Qassem said.
He also rejected direct negotiations with Israel, saying they would bring “nothing but shame, humiliation and successive compromises” for Lebanon.
“I call on the political authorities to stop making gratuitous concessions, to open the door to dialogue with the resistance, and to address the internal situation,” he added.
Qassem said the memorandum of understanding signed between Iran and the United States in mid-June would lead to an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran has triumphed,” he said.
The first article of the agreement provides for a ceasefire in Lebanon. Israel has continued to carry out strikes and demolitions in southern Lebanon and maintains a military presence there.
Israeli operations continue in south Lebanon
Overnight Monday into Tuesday, the Israeli army blew up several houses in Haddatha in the Bint Jbeil district, according to our correspondent in southern Lebanon.
The town has been at the center of recent Israeli operations. On Monday evening, Haddatha came under artillery and machine-gun fire, while Beit Yahoun was also shelled.
On Tuesday morning, three Israeli military vehicles moved from Haddatha toward the outskirts of Haris, also in the Bint Jbeil district. Haris lies outside the “buffer zone” unilaterally declared by Israel in southern Lebanon.
Elsewhere, the Israeli army set fire to olive and other fruit trees in Adsheet Qsair and fired toward a shepherd in Wazzani, in the Marjayoun district, without causing injuries. Machine-gun fire also targeted the outskirts of Khiam.
The Israeli army also shelled the Ali Taher hill in the Nabatieh district and carried out explosions in Kounin, in the Bint Jbeil district, Monday night and early Tuesday.
Reporting contributed by our regional correspondent Muntasser Abdallah.
