Hezbollah: Israel's non-compliance will trigger "Other Options"
Shafaq News/ On Saturday, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem accused Lebanon's new government of 'failing' to prevent Israeli incursions in the country's south and capital.
Speaking at an event marking Al-Quds Day, Qassem reaffirmed Hezbollah's commitment to Palestinian 'just cause' and emphasized the liberation of holy sites, including Al-Aqsa Mosque.
He warned that Lebanon remains on Israel's annexation list, particularly in the south. 'The Israeli presence and visits to areas like Houla and Shemaa clearly signal expansionist ambitions,' he said, adding that 'Israel aims to establish a lasting foothold in Lebanon.'
Qassem described Israel as a 'relentless enemy with no defined borders,' asserting that Hezbollah's resistance 'can thwart its aggression and prevent it from achieving its objectives.'
He urged the Lebanese government to take decisive action, stating, 'The state must halt Israeli aggression, remove the occupation, and explore measures beyond diplomacy to confront ongoing violations.' He also called for prioritizing reconstruction efforts without external preconditions.
'If Israel does not comply, we will have no choice but to consider other options,' he warned, without elaborating.
"على الدولة اللبنانية أن تتصدى.. و"إسرائيل" لن تتمكن من أن تحقق ما تريد مع وجود المقاومة والشعب والتماسك الداخلي، ولا تستخفوا بما نقول وإذا لم تلتزم "إسرائيل" لن يكون أمامنا إلا أن نعود إلى خيارات أخرى"الأمين العام لــ #حزب_الله الشيخ نعيم قاسم #الميادين #يوم_القدس_العالمي pic.twitter.com/MDvVZfN3cw
— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) March 29, 2025
Qassem rejected normalization with Israel and political compromises that he claimed serve Israeli interests. He also dismissed allegations linking Hezbollah to recent cross-border incidents between Lebanon and Syria.
Hezbollah's leader accused Israel, with US support, of seeking to dismantle the resistance and shape Lebanon's future. 'With our resistance, the Lebanese people, and national cohesion, Israel will not achieve its goals,' he said.
His remarks come amid rising tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border, where recent clashes have raised concerns about the stability of a ceasefire agreement brokered on November 27, 2024, which Israel has violated over 1,500 times, causing at least 100 fatalities and 331 injuries, according to Lebanese official data.
Israel also failed to complete its withdrawal from southern Lebanon by the agreed February 18 deadline, carrying out only a partial pullback while continuing to occupy five major Lebanese hills seized in the last war. Recently, it has begun constructing a border strip extending one or two kilometers into Lebanese territory.
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