Hezbollah Chief Qassem Demands Israel’s Withdrawal from Lebanon, Hails Iran-US Deal as ‘American-Israeli Defeat’

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has declared that Israel has “no option” but to withdraw from all Lebanese territory it occupies, while describing the recent Iran-US agreement that eased the regional conflict as a defeat for both Washington and Tel Aviv.

Qassem made the remarks in a televised address on Friday as Shia Muslims across Lebanon commemorated Ashura, one of the most significant events in the Shia Islamic calendar marking the death of Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad.

The speech coincided with a massive gathering in Beirut’s southern suburbs, where tens of thousands of Hezbollah supporters waved the group’s flags alongside Iranian banners. It was the largest public rally organised by Hezbollah since the regional war erupted in March.

“Israel has no option but to withdraw completely from every inch of our Lebanese land. Israel must leave unconditionally,” Qassem said, reiterating the group’s position as indirect negotiations between Lebanon and Israel continue.

The latest conflict began on March 2 after Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel, saying the attack was in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader during US-Israeli strikes. Israel responded with extensive airstrikes and a ground offensive that Lebanese authorities say has claimed more than 4,200 lives.

Although a US-backed ceasefire announced in April failed to end the violence, a fresh truce was declared this month as Tehran insisted that any agreement with Washington to end the wider Middle East conflict must also address the situation in Lebanon. Despite the ceasefire, Lebanese officials reported six deaths from Israeli attacks earlier this week.

As Lebanon and Israel hold a fifth round of talks in Washington, Qassem rejected any possibility of normalising relations with Israel.

“We accept no normalisation, no cancellation of the state of hostility, and no gains for Israel,” he stated, while thanking Iran for its continued backing and describing the recent agreement with the United States as “an official declaration of the defeat of America and Israel.”

Among those attending the Ashura gathering was Abeer Ayash, who said she had lost her home and several relatives during Israeli airstrikes. She said supporters remained committed to Hezbollah’s resistance, renewing allegiance to the late Hassan Nasrallah and Iran’s current supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.