Hezbollah chief says Israel must leave Lebanon unconditionally

On Friday, Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem declared that Israel has no choice but to withdraw from all Lebanese territory it occupies, and he characterized the Iran‑US agreement that eased hostilities with Israel as a defeat for the United States and Israel.

The televised address coincided with Ashura, the Shia Muslim day of mourning for the martyrdom of Hussein, a central figure in Shia Islam.

In Beirut’s southern suburbs, tens of thousands of supporters gathered, waving Hezbollah and Iranian flags, marking the largest assembly organized by the pro‑Iran group since the war began in March.

Qassem stated, “Israel has no option but to withdraw completely from every inch of our Lebanese land… Israel must leave unconditionally.”

Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the regional conflict on March 2 by launching rockets at Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader during US‑Israeli strikes.

Israel retaliated with airstrikes and an invasion that Lebanese officials claim have killed more than 4,200 people.

Under U.S. pressure, Lebanese officials entered direct talks with Israel in Washington in April, and a truce was announced on April 17, though it did not halt the fighting.

This month, a new ceasefire was declared as Tehran insisted that its agreement with the United States to end the Middle East war must include Lebanon.

Lebanese authorities