A senior Hezbollah official has highlighted the interconnected nature of the interests of the Lebanese and Palestinian nations, saying operations against Israeli military sites are in response to the ongoing genocidal war in Gaza.
“The battle we are fighting to support Gaza is also in the interests of Lebanon, because it warns off Israel that there is deterrence and the resistance front is well-prepared,” Hezbollah Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem said during a ceremony at the Imam al-Mujtaba (peace be upon him) compound in Beirut’s southern suburb of Dahyieh on Sunday.
“The Zionist enemy, therefore, cannot cherish the idea of attacking Lebanon.”
Qassem underscored the crucial role Hezbollah plays in Lebanon. He said the Arab nation cannot be independent and stable without the resistance movement.
“When the Israeli military invaded Lebanon in 1982, the regime’s goal was to expel Palestinians. Why did the forces stay in Lebanon for 18 years? The occupying regime sought to build settlements in the southern part of our country, and settle Palestinians there. Its goal was to bring the Beirut government under its control, but Hezbollah thwarted such plots.
“If it were not for the sake of the Hezbollah resistance movement and weapons at its inventory, there would be no possibility of deterrence against Israel,” Sheikh Qassem said.
“We are facing an expansionist enemy. It is better that the enemy does not get an opportunity to implement its conspiracies against us. We know what we are doing, and all measures are well calculated and planned. We will not let the enemy know about our plans.
“The Zionist enemy is seeking to ramp up attacks on civilians in Baalbek, Western Beqaa district or any other place. All these attacks will duly be responded to,” Sheikh Qassem said.
The Israeli regime has been attacking southern Lebanon off and on since October 7, 2023, when it launched the devastating campaign of death and destruction in Gaza.
In retaliation, Hezbollah has launched near-daily rocket attacks on Israeli positions.
More than 320 people have been killed on the Lebanese border, including 56 civilians. And Israel says at least ten of its troops and seven settlers have been killed in the area.
The fighting has forced the evacuation of tens of thousands from the northern part of the occupied territories, which have been pummeled by rocket fire and shelling carried out by Hezbollah and allied Palestinian groups.
Hezbollah has already fought off two Israeli wars against Lebanon in 2000 and 2006. The resistance forced the regime to retreat in both conflicts.
