– Those who bet that Hezbollah would be weakened have lost their bet, says Naim Qassem on Friday.
He took over as leader after Israel killed Hezbollah’s longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah in a massive bombing in Beirut in late September.
A large number of other Hezbollah leaders have also been killed in Israeli attacks. Qassem nevertheless describes the ceasefire as a “divine victory”.
– The resistance movement and the Lebanese army will coordinate at a high level to implement the agreement’s obligations, says Qassem.
– We approved the agreement
So far this year, at least 3,961 people have been killed in Israeli attacks against Lebanon, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. The vast majority were killed in the war last autumn, 78 of them in the last 24 hours before the ceasefire came into force on Wednesday. Over 16,500 are wounded, and there are many civilians among the victims.
The material destruction is massive, and the World Bank estimates that over 99,000 homes have been completely or partially destroyed in the war. Almost 1 million Lebanese have been displaced.
Nevertheless, Qassem insists that Hezbollah has scored another victory against Israel.
– We approved the agreement, with our heads held high, he says in Friday’s speech.
Solidarity with Palestinians
On the Israeli side, at least 82 soldiers and 47 civilians were killed, according to Israeli authorities.
The ceasefire, brokered by the US and France, is meant to put an end to the latest war between the Hezbollah militia and Israel.
Hezbollah launched sporadic rocket attacks against Israeli targets last October and in solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. It happened after Hamas had first attacked Israel on 7 October.
Israel has since responded with airstrikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon and stepped up bombing and sent ground forces into southern Lebanon in September. A number of villages have since been razed, and Israel has also carried out massive airstrikes against Beirut and cities such as Tire and Baalbek.
The war in 2006
The previous war between Israel and Hezbollah was fought in 2006 and lasted 34 days.
Hezbollah fired over 4,000 rockets at Israel, and 165 Israelis were killed, just over 120 of them soldiers. On the Lebanese side, over 1,100 people were killed.
It ended with Israeli withdrawal and UN Security Council Resolution 1701. The resolution, which stipulates that Hezbollah withdraw from the areas south of the Litani River and be replaced by Lebanese government soldiers, has not been complied with.
Promise to cooperate
The ceasefire agreement that was concluded this week means that Israeli forces must withdraw completely from southern Lebanon within 60 days. Internally displaced persons will gradually be allowed to return home, while Hezbollah will withdraw from the border with Israel and move its heavy weapons north of the Litani river.
The Lebanese army will deploy several thousand soldiers south of the Litani River, including at 33 border posts with Israel. The agreement maintains that only “official military and security forces” can carry weapons, in line with UN Resolution 1701.