Hezbollah’s Secretary-General, Naim Qassem, declared on Friday that his group had achieved “victory” over Israel in the latest conflict. During a televised speech, Qassem, who took over from Hassan Nasrallah after Nasrallah’s elimination by Israel during Operation Northern Arrows, asserted that Hezbollah’s “divine victory” in this conflict had surpassed the group’s previous triumph claimed after the 2006 Second Lebanon War.
In his speech, Qassem reiterated Hezbollah’s commitment to the “Palestinian cause” and stated, “We repeated that we do not want war, but we are ready for one if Israel forces it upon us.” He further claimed, “We are on the verge of a divine victory, greater than the victory of 2006,” and emphasized, “The war began with the goal of destroying Hezbollah, returning civilians to the north, and building a new Middle East. Israel expected to achieve its objectives quickly after striking our leadership and capabilities. Hezbollah managed to stand firm on the frontlines and began hitting Israel’s internal front.”
“The resistance has proven through this war that it is prepared, and Nasrallah’s plans were effective and accounted for all developments. Israel gambled on internal conflicts, but that gamble failed due to cooperation (in Lebanon, Hezbollah). The resilience of the resistance shocked the world, frightened the Israeli army, and brought despair to the enemy,” Qassem continued, according to Ynet.
Regarding the ceasefire that began on Wednesday, Qassem emphasized, “The agreement is under Lebanese sovereignty, and the resistance is present on the ground. We hold our heads high because we have the right to defend ourselves. One of the signs of the enemy’s defeat is that our people are returning, while settlers are not returning on the other side.”
{Matzav.com Israel}