In a message to the “steadfast” people of Lebanon on Friday, Sheikh Qassem extended his condolences for the martyrdom of hundreds of people in the Israeli strikes on Wednesday, and wished the wounded a speedy recovery.
On Wednesday, the Israeli military carried out more than 100 airstrikes across Lebanon, killing more than 300 people and injuring 1,165 others.
He noted that the Israeli regime resorted to the bloody attacks “in an attempt to mask its battlefield failure”, amid Hezbollah’s retaliatory strikes.
“For forty days, the enemy has accumulated failure. Its settlements are overwhelmed with fear and pain, its plans in disarray, and its officials issuing loud threats with little effect.”
Hezbollah chief stressed that the shed blood of the Lebanese will increase the determination of the nation to liberate their land and accelerate the victory against “the brutal and tyrannical Israeli-American enemy”.
He emphasized that the “brave” resistance fighters on the frontlines have “shattered the enemy’s ambitions”, with the regime initially aiming to reach the Litani River, but later attempting limited advances.
“It has repeatedly shifted its objectives—at times seeking to reach the Litani River, at others attempting limited advances, then control through firepower, or relying on destruction alone,” he said, noting that the fighters ambushed the Israeli forces and left their military vehicles destroyed at the crossroads of towns and villages.
“Throughout more than forty days of aggression, it has failed to stop rockets, shells, and drones from reaching its settlements, near and far, extending to Haifa and beyond,” he added.
Pointing out that Israel was “taken by surprise by the resistance’s tactics—the flexibility of its fighters, their defensive capabilities, and their legendary courage”, he said the enemy has realized that even deploying one hundred thousand Israeli soldiers will not enable the regime to occupy the South.
“Those who remain in the field live in fear and terror, uncertain of when they will be killed, captured, or ordered to withdraw due to their inability to maintain any foothold on the pure land in the South.”
Qassem vowed that “the resistance will continue until the very last breath”, and that the sacrifices made so far will “only deepen our determination to liberate our land and preserve our dignity”.
He urged the Beirut government not to offer free concessions in possible talks with the occupying regime, stressing “We will not accept a return to the previous status quo”.
“Together—as a state, an army, a people, and a resistance—we will protect our country, restore its sovereignty, and expel the occupier,” he stated.
Since February 28, when Israel and the US began their large-scale and unprovoked military campaign against Iran, the occupying regime has ramped up its assaults on Lebanon, carrying out ground and aerial attacks across the Arab country with the aim of deepening its occupation of Lebanese territory.
The Wednesday attacks came hours after Iran and the US announced a 15-day ceasefire based on Iran's 10-point proposal. One of the agreed points, as confirmed by the mediator Pakistan, has been a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that the truce excluded Lebanon, and promised to continue attacks against Lebanon.
However, he later said he authorized talks with the Lebanese government, amid US pressure.
A high-ranking security source told Press TV on Friday that intense pressure and the threat to withdraw from talks with the United States in Islamabad from Tehran forced the Zionist regime to stop its military attacks on the Lebanese capital, Beirut.
Before the war, Israel carried out numerous violations of a 2024 ceasefire deal it signed with Hezbollah, under which Tel Aviv was expected to end deadly attacks on Lebanon.
Press TV