BEIRUT, (Palestine Foundation Information Center), Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem said on Friday that the resistance had thwarted a US-Israeli project in the region, arguing that recent developments had created a new reality in Lebanon and beyond.
Qassem said Israel’s presence on Lebanese territory was not driven by the threat of rockets, but by its ambition to occupy Lebanon.
He said the resistance had prevented those plans from succeeding and insisted that Israeli forces must withdraw completely from every part of Lebanese territory and halt their attacks without conditions, in line with the November 27, 2024 agreement.
Qassem also described the recent Iran-US memorandum of understanding as evidence that attempts to subdue Iran and impose conditions on it had failed.
He urged Lebanese authorities to unite against Israel and reject US and Israeli dictates, while reaffirming that Hezbollah would retain its presence, capabilities and independent decision-making.
Qassem described the resistance as a pillar of Lebanon’s independence and liberation, adding that the liberation of Palestine would remain its guiding priority.
His remarks came after unofficial Israeli media reported that one Israeli soldier was killed and four others wounded in fierce clashes with Hezbollah fighters in Beit Yahoun, southern Lebanon, on Thursday evening.
The Israeli media outlet Hadashot Bazman said the clashes involved Hezbollah fighters and Israeli army Brigade 91 forces in the Bint Jbeil district.
Four soldiers were wounded, including one critically, while Israeli military helicopters evacuated the casualties to hospitals in an operation that reportedly took considerable time.
Israeli warplanes later carried out several strikes on Beit Yahoun.
