Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem Hails US-Iran Deal As Big Victory, Demands Israel Withdraw From Southern Lebanon

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem hailed an agreement between the United States and Iran as a "big victory" in a televised speech on Wednesday, saying it forced Israel to stop its aggression and linked the "Lebanon front" to a broader regional confrontation.

“Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem on Wednesday hailed an understanding reached between Tehran and Washington to end the regional war as a "great victory", calling it a "pivotal point" for Lebanon”

Asharq Al-Awsat English

In that same televised address, Qassem said the war’s goal was to topple the Iranian regime, but "the might of American tyranny was broken, and Washington's colonialist project for Iran failed."

Asharq Al-Awsat English

UPI reported that Qassem set a ceiling for Lebanon-Israel negotiations at "mutual security" to secure Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon, while also saying efforts to overthrow the Iranian regime had failed and that the regional balance of power had changed.

UPI also said Qassem argued that Israel wanted to "eliminate" Hezbollah militarily, politically, and at the popular level, thereby "eradicating the existence of a large segment of Lebanese society" through killing, displacement, or forced relocation.

Qassem told Lebanon’s negotiations with Israel should be limited to "mutual security" and rejected disarmament, saying "Any proposal that involves disarmament will not pass, as it is Israel's formula to take everything and destroy the country."

The BBC reported that Israeli drone strikes injured several people in Mansouri and Aaziyyeh on Wednesday, while jets attacked Nabatieh al-Fawqa and Kfar Tebnit, according to Lebanon's National News Agency.

BBC

The BBC also said Israel's military did not comment, but it did say five soldiers were injured in a drone attack in Lebanon by the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah.

In the same BBC account, mediator Pakistan said the deal between the US and Iran to end the war includes Lebanon, and the BBC reported that Trump said Israel's prime minister needed "to be more responsible with respect to Lebanon".

Qassem urged Lebanon to abandon direct negotiations with Israel, describing them as concessions, while also calling for Lebanon to restore its sovereignty through the withdrawal of Israeli troops from occupied Lebanese territory.

“Hezbollah: US-Iran deal 'big victory' - Breaking The News Home Markets Economy Business Politics World War/Terrorism Technology Crypto Sports Insights [](https://breakingthenews”

Breakingthenews.net

The BBC reported that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said his country was pursuing an "independent path" at its negotiations with Israel in Washington, but added that he was "in favour of a ceasefire and welcome the support of any country that helps us, including Iran."

UPI said Qassem rejected "safe areas" for Israel or the adoption of "pilot zones" for its gradual withdrawal from southern Lebanon, and said the Lebanese army would be deployed exclusively south of the Litani River in accordance with any agreement.

UPI further reported that another round of direct military and diplomatic talks between Lebanon and Israel is scheduled to take place in Washington next week, while Hezbollah pushed to drop the Washington talks in favor of the U.S.-Iran negotiations track that includes Lebanon in a ceasefire agreement to be signed in Geneva on Friday.