Hezbollah chief Naeem Qassem slams Lebanon‑Israel deal, backs US‑Iran pact

Hezbollah secretary‑general Sheikh Naeem Qassem addressed a large Ashura procession in the southern suburbs of Beirut, urging that Lebanon’s sovereignty can only be guaranteed by the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from all Lebanese territory. He warned that “there is no option before Israel but full withdrawal from every inch of Lebanese land” and condemned the Lebanese authority’s recent “framework agreement” with Israel as a betrayal of the nation’s independence.

Qassem praised the recently concluded US‑Iran understanding, describing it as a vital support for Lebanon’s sovereignty, and called on Lebanese political actors to unite, resume reconstruction, and protect the country’s economic and social stability. He urged the Lebanese state to reject any compromise with Israel and to rely on the US‑Iran cease‑fire accord that promises security for Lebanese territory.