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LBCI
6 days ago
- Politics
- LBCI
A quarter-century later: Two wars, two realities for Hezbollah
Report by Wissam Nasrallah, English adaptation by Karine Keuchkerian A quarter-century has passed since Israeli forces withdrew from Lebanese territory—reluctantly, not voluntarily—under the pressure of persistent resistance operations. That remains a fact. Since then, Israel has launched two wars on Lebanon. In the first, the July 2006 war, Hezbollah emerged victorious. Few can deny the footage showing Merkava tanks hit by Kornet missiles in Wadi al-Hujeir—missiles that Israel was unaware Hezbollah even possessed at the time. Nor can anyone claim Israel succeeded in assassinating any top Hezbollah leader during that war. The prisoner exchange that followed revealed the fate of two captured Israeli soldiers—returned in coffins in exchange for five living Lebanese detainees and the remains of nearly 200 others. The second war, however, told a different story. That is also a fact. Just as it is difficult to dismiss Hezbollah's battlefield accomplishments in 2006, it is harder to overlook the scale of Israeli strikes since the September 2024 offensive. From the operation involving pager explosions to thousands of airstrikes over a short period, the toll includes thousands of casualties, the assassination of much of Hezbollah's command-and-control unit—including Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah—and the destruction of southern villages during the ceasefire, followed by Israeli incursions into Lebanese territory. Still, Hezbollah and its ally, the Amal Movement, have reasserted their local support, winning a majority of municipal councils in Shiite-majority areas of the south and the Bekaa. The question remains: how much does the win matter to Washington, especially following a war that shifted the balance of power and intensified U.S. calls for Hezbollah's disarmament? Hezbollah, for its part, maintains that the issue of disarmament applies only to the area south of the Litani River. The reality after 2006 is not the same as the one after 2024. Simply put, the outcomes of the two wars are not just different—they are contradictory. The question now is how Hezbollah will navigate this new phase—and, more critically, what timeline Washington has set for achieving its stated goals.
Saba Yemen
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Hezbollah Secretary-General: "We will not relinquish single grain of soil"
Beirut – Saba: Hezbollah Secretary-General, His Eminence Sheikh Naim Qassem, affirmed that they will not relinquish a single grain of soil from the bountiful south of Lebanon. He emphasized that "the continued Israeli occupation of any inch of our land and homeland will not be accepted." In a speech addressed to the people of the south on Thursday regarding the upcoming municipal and elective elections set for next Saturday, he stated that "massive participation in the municipal and elective elections is part of the reconstruction process, which we will oversee alongside the elected municipalities and the Lebanese state, which must bear its responsibilities." He added, "The liberation of the south's land, its reconstruction, and the rebuilding of all that has been destroyed in Lebanon are inseparable from honoring the blood of the martyrs, foremost among them the Master of the Nation's Martyrs, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, as well as the wounded and the prisoners whom we will work to bring back." Sheikh Qassem further noted that "this year's municipal and elective elections come as a challenge of resilience, steadfastness, and commitment to the land—rebuilding it with its people, orchards, houses, and all elements of life." He stressed that "all those betting on the Israeli aggression are awaiting the results." Addressing the people of the south, he said, "You have made the greatest sacrifices and set an example of legendary resilience in the face of Israeli aggression over decades, most recently in supporting the Flood of Gaza and the Battle of the Valiant, and beyond. You have proven that you are people of dignity, sovereignty, and the liberation of the land." He praised their efforts in "rebuilding the south after the liberation in 2000 and again following the July 2006 aggression. Now, you have preceded the state and its officials in returning to your land, defying dangers and making sacrifices to reclaim your land and homeland with steadfastness, courage, and reliance on God Almighty." Sheikh Naim Qassim added, "We are not addressing you to secure victory in the elections, for you are already victorious, God willing—through your unity, rallying around the Amal Movement and Hezbollah, your support for the Development and Loyalty lists, and your backing of the resistance. Indeed, you *are* the resistance. We address you to intensify your presence and participation in the elections, so that the victory may be resounding." Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (International)
Al Manar
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Al Manar
Hezbollah's Sheikh Qassem Salutes Lebanese Southerners on Eve of Local Elections
Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem addressed the Lebanese southerners on the eve of local elections. In a message published by Hezbollah's Media Relations Office, Sheikh Qassem saluted the Lebanese southerners, calling for wide participation in the fourth round of municipal and mayoral elections, which will take place on Sunday, a day ahead of the 25th anniversary of south Lebanon's liberation. 'You have made the greatest sacrifices and set a model of legendary steadfastness in the face of Israeli aggression for decades, most recently in supporting Gaza's Flood, the Battle of the Almighty Warriors, and the subsequent events. You have proven to be people of pride, sovereignty, and the liberation of the land,' Sheikh Qassem wrote in the message, carried by Al-Manar. 'You reconstructed the South after the liberation in 2000, and once again after the 2006 July War. Now, you have preceded the Lebanese State and officials in returning to your land. You have defied the dangers and made sacrifices to reclaim your land and homeland with steadfastness, courage, and trust in Almighty God,' the Hezbollah S.G. added. Sheikh Qassem noted that this year's municipal and mayoral elections 'are a challenge of steadfastness, solid position, adherence to the land, and reconstruction. All those who are betting on the Israeli aggression are awaiting the results.' 'We are not addressing you to achieve victory in the elections. you are the winners by rallying around Amal Movement and Hezbollah, your support for the Development and Loyalty lists, and your support for the resistance,' his eminence said, referring to electoral lists supported by the national duo. 'Indeed, you are the resistance. We are addressing you to intensify your presence and participation in the elections, so that victory will be resounding.' The Hezbollah leader stressed that the resistance party 'won't relinquish a single grain of sand from our generous south, and we will not accept the continued Israeli occupation of any inch of our land and homeland.' His eminence affirmed that the southerners' massive participation in the municipal and mayoral elections 'is part of the reconstruction that we will keep up with the elected municipalities and with the Lebanese State, which must assume its responsibility. ' 'Restoring and rebuilding the land of the South, and rebuilding all that was destroyed in Lebanon, is an integral part of showing loyalty to the blood of the martyrs, foremost among them the master of the nation's martyrs, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, and to the wounded and prisoners, whom we will work to recover,' Sheikh Qassem concluded the message. Sheikh Qassem's message comes as the Israeli enemy launched a wave of fresh attacks on southe Lebanon and Bekaa, targeting dozens of towns including a residential area in the southern town of Toul.
Al Manar
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Al Manar
‘Israel' Intensifies Aggression Hours before Democratic Vote: Air Raids Target South Lebanon
The Israeli enemy intensified on Thursday its aggression on South Lebanon hours before the municipal and mayoral elections scheduled to be held on Saturday. After issuing an evacuation warning, the Israeli war jets raided a residential building in the city of Toul, Nabatieh area. Later on, the Israeli enemy's war jets targeted Touline, Berghez, Zibqin, Al-Hinneye, and Al-Rihan Heights in South Lebanon. Nevertheless, the Lebanese House Speaker Nabih Berri called on the southerners to flock into their towns on May 24 in order to vote heavily for the lists backed by Hezbollah and Amal Movement, stressing that it would be an occasion of reiterating allegiance to the resistance and reconstruction. In turn, the Loyalty to Resistance bloc indicated that Resistance and Liberation Day reaffirms the importance of the resistance path, hailing the results of the municipal elections in Mount Lebanon, the North, Beirut and Bekaa. 'The bloc calls on all Lebanese officials to act with awareness, courage, and a clear understanding of national interest, free from US pressure and its unwavering bias toward Israel at Lebanon's expense.' It is worth noting that a large number of municipal councils in South Lebanon have been elected by acclamation.
Nahar Net
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Nahar Net
Berri urges southerners to 'vote heavily' on Saturday
by Naharnet Newsdesk 22 May 2025, 14:46 Speaker Nabih Berri on Thursday called on southerners to vote heavily in Saturday's municipal and mayoral polls, especially in towns near the border, to tell Israel that 'these dear towns will only be Lebanese.' 'The human is Lebanon's capital and participation in everything that creates the life of the state and society is the path toward freedom, justice and development,' Berri said in an appeal. 'On May 24 you are urged to return to your land and homes, the same as you did in the first moments after the end of the brutal Israeli aggression,' the Speaker added. Addressing the supporters of Hezbollah and the Amal Movement, Berri said: 'Vote heavily, especially in the front line towns, to produce their municipal and mayoral councils and stress through them to the Israeli occupier and its hostile machine that these dear towns will only be Lebanese for their residents and a space for life, not a scorched land.' 'We will rebuild them and they will not become a buffer zone no matter the sacrifices,' the Speaker added. Berri's appeal comes amid an intensification of Israeli attacks on vehicles carrying Hezbollah members in recent days. The Lebanese state has been told by influential countries, topped by the United States, that there are security 'guarantees' for carrying out the municipal and mayoral elections in south Lebanon on Saturday, despite the daily Israeli attacks that the South is witnessing, the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper reported on Wednesday. President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met on Tuesday and 'their discussions focused on Saturday's juncture and the need to exert utmost efforts to secure its success, amid the presence of fears that Israel might stage military actions,' the daily added. Interior Minister Ahmad al-Hajjar visited Sidon on Tuesday and hoped the municipal and mayoral elections in the South will be an occasion for the state to 'restore its presence and stress its sovereignty in the South.' Hoping contacts with the ceasefire monitoring committee will lead to 'a calm electoral day on Saturday,' the minister said: 'Anyhow, we are not awaiting guarantees, but we are determined to hold the elections and practice our sovereignty and presence in this dear part of our land.' Asked about the impact of any Israeli attack on the electoral process, the minister said: 'If any violation or attack happens, the decision is clear: continuing the electoral process and dealing with the situation on the ground.'
