The coffins of Hassan Nasrallah and his short-lived successor, Hashem Safieddine, carried during funerals held at Beirut's Sports City on Feb. 23, 2025. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L'Orient-Le Jour)
The unease was palpable. Speaking on Saturday for the first time in weeks, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem pledged to continue pursuing "resistance in all its forms" in order to "liberate Palestine." Yet he did not say a word about southern Lebanon. Not a word about a situation that has become dire, as Israel has expanded its zone of occupation by taking control of the strategic Ali Taher hill, continues to raze entire villages and carries out daily air strikes.Since the start of the war in March, Hezbollah has repeatedly said it rejects any return to the status quo ante, when Israeli forces occupied five positions and carried out occasional attacks. The situation has now moved well beyond that status quo. Yet Hezbollah remains silent and has refrained from claiming responsibility for a single attack. Its...
The unease was palpable. Speaking on Saturday for the first time in weeks, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem pledged to continue pursuing "resistance in all its forms" in order to "liberate Palestine." Yet he did not say a word about southern Lebanon. Not a word about a situation that has become dire, as Israel has expanded its zone of occupation by taking control of the strategic Ali Taher hill, continues to raze entire villages and carries out daily air strikes.Since the start of the war in March, Hezbollah has repeatedly said it rejects any return to the status quo ante, when Israeli forces occupied five positions and carried out occasional attacks. The situation has now moved well beyond that status quo. Yet Hezbollah remains silent and has refrained from claiming responsibility for a single attack. Its...
