Hezbollah chief: Israel long sought to eradicate resistance, but to no avail

The secretary-general of the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement says the occupying Israeli regime has long been seeking the eradication of the resistance front through various atrocious campaigns, but has dismally failed to attain the objective.

Sheikh Naim Qassem made the remarks in a televised speech on Saturday evening, noting that “the Zionist enemy seeks to exterminate any form of resistance that confronts its expansionist ambitions across the region."

“Israeli atrocities aimed at elimination of the resistance front have been unsuccessful, substantiating the fact that such brutalities could not be viewed as achievement at all,” he added.

He noted that Hezbollah's retaliatory rocket and drone attacks on illegal Israeli settlements in the northern parts of the occupied territories drove tens of thousands of residents to seek refuge in shelters. “The only pain they (the Israeli regime) could inflict upon us was the targeted killing of our leaders.”

Sheikh Qassem went on to highlight that Hezbollah anticipated the Israeli military aggression on Lebanon both before and after the surprise and large-scale operation by Gaza-based resistance groups, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, against the Zionist entity on October 7 last year, but did not know about the exact timing.

“The key factors behind our victory were the steadfastness of resistance fighters, and the sacrifices made through the blood of martyrs. Surrender and humiliation have no place in our lexicon as Hezbollah’s resistance is fierce and spirited,” he said.

The Hezbollah chief stated that the Lebanese resistance movement made big sacrifices in standing firm against the Israeli regime, adding that Israeli-occupied Lebanese territories could be liberated only by means of resistance.

Sheikh Qassem also noted that the Israeli military would have captured the Lebanese capital Beirut if it were not for the sacrifices of Hezbollah fighters.

‘Evil hummingbirds’: People in south Lebanon recount horror as Israel continues to breach truce

Israel has been violating the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon on a daily basis, deliberately targeting civilian areas in different villages of southern Lebanon, locals told the Press TV website.

Elsewhere in his speech, the Hezbollah chief pointed to the ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanese group, stating that the agreement rather ended fighting between the Israeli military and Hezbollah forces for the time being; but not the struggle against the Israeli occupation.

Sheikh Qassem underscored that methods and means of resistance can vary interchangeably, adding that the resistance front will come out victorious in the face of Israel despite losses it has endured.

“The future of resistance requires that we confront our enemies through mass mobilization, strength and unwavering determination," he said.

“The Israeli enemy’s goal is to subjugate the entire region, just as it attempted in Gaza and Syria. We are facing an expansionist enemy that has seized hundreds of kilometers, including the occupied Golan Heights,” the Hezbollah leader added.

He stressed that the Lebanese army has made great sacrifices, losing dozens of its soldiers to protect the Arab nation’s sovereignty.

“Hezbollah remains strong, and continues to thrive despite challenges and difficulties. Hezbollah is steadfast and recovering quickly. Those who anticipated its collapse have been bitterly disappointed."

“We will actively participate alongside state institutions in the reconstruction of Lebanon, and will work seriously to elect a new president,” Sheikh Qassem said.

Turning to Syria, he stated that Hezbollah supported the country because it consistently stood in opposition to Israeli plots.

“Now that the government of Bashar al-Assad has fallen, we wait for the formation of a new administration to determine its position and direction. We hope that the new leadership in Syria would further foster cooperation between Syrian and Lebanese nations and governments on the basis of equality and mutual respect," he said.

He also expected Syria's interim government to view Israel as an enemy, and refrain from normalization of diplomatic ties with the Tel Aviv regime.

“We do not believe that the ongoing developments in Syria will have any significant impact on Lebanon,” Sheikh Qassem concluded.

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