In an exclusive interview for Al Mayadeen, the head of the Loyalty to the Resistance Parliamentary bloc, Mohammad Raad, reflected on the martyrdom of Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, spoke of the initial shock and the weight of responsibility that followed, how Hezbollah renewed its commitment to Palestine amid Israeli aggression, and Hezbollah's recovery.

"The moment was indescribably shocking; it was as if we had crash-landed from space," said Hezbollah MP Mohammad Raad, describing to Al Mayadeen the moment he learned of the martyrdom of former Hezbollah Secretary-General, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.

In an exclusive interview for #AlMayadeen, commemorating the first martyrdom anniversary of Sayyed #HassanNasrallah, Mohammad Raad, head of #Hezbollah’s Loyalty to the Resistance bloc, reflects on the moment Sayyed Hassan was martyred, describing it as a shock that threw… pic.twitter.com/z969FQtJ5p

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) September 22, 2025

Raad stated that for hours after the attack, the question of whether Sayyed Nasrallah had been targeted and martyred remained unresolved.

He explained that due to the late leader's strict principle of never announcing any fate without visual confirmation, they endured a painful wait until the bitter truth was confirmed; a realization that immediately impressed upon them the immense responsibilities bequeathed to them.

Remembering martyr Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah: The voice that refused to bow to tyranny. 40 days since his martyrdom, #Lebanon and the region honor not just a leader but a legacy of steadfast resistance.

Born in #Beirut’s impoverished Karantina neighborhood, the leader of the… pic.twitter.com/swd8j5MT1T

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) November 8, 2024

Palestine remains Sayyed Nasrallah's greatest concern

The Lebanese MP continued that "the burden Sayyed Nasrallah carried was immense, as he carried the concern of a nation, and the concern of its greatest cause: Palestine. His mind was preoccupied with ensuring factions of the nation did not become distracted from their central objective. We began from the very first moment to focus on moving past grief by taking up responsibility, to then actually shouldering it."

He recalled martyr Sayyed Nasrallah's final speech during Ashura, in which he bid farewell to the people by saying, "Until we meet again," which Raad interpreted as a clear farewell, sensing that Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah believed they were heading "into a harsh and brutal confrontation against an enemy that would reveal its full brutality and the deep-seated hostility it holds for all of humanity."

"We were shocked to lose him at that moment, but I said at the time that he chose the right moment to depart, because it would have been too painful for him to see tears from an oppressed, aggrieved, or persecuted person without being able to do anything about it," he added.

Targeting Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah equal to targeting all of Hezbollah

The Israeli occupation intended for the martyrdom of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah to mark the end of Hezbollah and break the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon, which had built up its achievements over decades. However, as Raad confirmed when questioned on this matter, the target was in fact the entire party, a fact he described as crystal clear.

Raad clarified that Hezbollah understood from the very beginning, following Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, that the confrontation would be decisive, critical, and harsh.

He stated that this was demonstrated by "what we saw and monitored in terms of preparations, and the intelligence we gathered about developments by the enemy, their implementation of recommendations from the Winograd Committee, and the direct involvement of the colonizing West, led by the United States, in the war against the Gaza Strip and against all those who resist for the cause of Palestine."

Read more: Exclusive: Sayyed Nasrallah was a compassionate, unique leader - Safa

Hezbollah knew it was targeted 

Despite "Israel's" measures, Raad stressed that from a human, moral, and national perspective, Hezbollah had no choice but to engage, at the very least, in supporting and backing the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip to the best of its ability.

He explained that by providing consistent support, the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon aimed to send a clear message to the world: failing to help Gaza and Palestine would have consequences for every capital in the region and expose every force that claims to support freedom but does nothing to help those actually fighting for it.

However, the issue was not limited to just the ideological or humanitarian aspect, as Raad confirmed, stating that "Hezbollah was aware that it, as a Resistance, even though it is on another front adjacent to Gaza, was a target from the very first moment the decision was made to target the resistance in Gaza."

Supporting Gaza remains best decision

In the same context, the head of the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc emphasized that supporting Gaza was the most correct decision Hezbollah ever made, as it represents a victory for humanity, freedom, and patriotism, no matter the cost. He affirmed that the Resistance acted in complete harmony with its identity, convictions, and principles, demonstrating the highest level of commitment to the cause.

He asserted that the only people making excuses are the slothful ones and that blame rests entirely on those who are negligent and fail to support Gaza. He characterized the aggression against Gaza as "the most criminal, terrorist," noting that it far exceeds the brutality of what is historically referred to as the holocaust.

Raad asked, "What do we say to the children of the world when they see their peers starving from a lack of milk? What do we say to the hospitals, their owners, their patients, their doctors, and their nurses? What do we say about the institutions, the cities, the buildings, the neighborhoods? Where are the signs of life that we can live with an enemy that destroys them all?"

Keeping promises to Sayyed Nasrallah motivated the Resistance

Returning to the start of the People of Might battle, Hezbollah's MP said that the Israeli occupation had imagined this battle was going to be decisive, pointing out that to this end, thinking it might be dealing Hezbollah a knockout, "Israel" committed the Pagers Massacre, then targeted the leaders of the Radwan Force, and later targeted Sayyed Nasrallah.

Head of #Hezbollah’s Loyalty to the Resistance parliamentary bloc, #MohammadRaad, reflected on nearly a year since Sayyed Hassan’s martyrdom, recalling the multiple attempts by "Israel" to "defeat" the party, from the terrorist pager massacre to the Radwan Force attacks and the… pic.twitter.com/UQ41gE9h66

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) September 22, 2025

Raad explained that the Israeli occupation, convinced it had delivered a knockout blow, was taken completely by surprise when Hezbollah instead demonstrated remarkable resilience and mobilized a significant military force across multiple fronts.

To prove this point, he pointed to the immediate rush of fighters to join the combat fronts against the Israeli occupation in South Lebanon following its ground incursion; a situation that necessitated the erection of checkpoints halfway to the south just to prevent them from proceeding, as the frontlines could not accommodate all of them. 

The primary motivation behind this, he explained, was a commitment to the pledge made to Sayyed Nasrallah to remain steadfast on the path he had paved and on which he had ascended as a martyr.

Hezbollah's cohesion was decisive factor

The head of the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc affirmed that the scale of the assault endured by Hezbollah during the war with the Israeli occupation, throughout its Support Front and the People of Might battle, would typically be enough to destroy a country or defeat an army.

Raad elaborated that what kept the party together and maintained its cohesion was fundamentally driven by a doctrinal loyalty and allegiance that involves an absolute commitment to its principles and a genuine dedication to implementing them, clarifying that positive interaction with the leadership, which itself embodies these principles and constants and sets an example in their application, is paramount.

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"Such a party can never be defeated; cohesion was the master of the situation... every person in the party knew their duty from the very first moment they felt the party was without a secretary-general."

Hezbollah has recovered immensely

Raad also noted that Hezbollah endured a severe blow but has largely recovered from it, explaining that they rebuilt their structure and filled vacant positions rapidly, even during the war, having successively appointed and then elected two secretaries-general within a week to ten days, a feat he asserted no state or army could accomplish.

On a popular level, MP Mohammad Raad noted that people demonstrated their affection, concern, and steadfast support for the Resistance, which he attributed to the foundational role of doctrine and a belief in both the leadership's just cause and capabilities, as well as the party's ability to cultivate worthy successors to this exemplary leadership.

Hezbollah transcends immediate interests in its alliances

The Lebanese MP also spoke about Hezbollah's local alliances, affirming that "every alliance or partnership achieves an interest" and explaining that these interests are divided into two parts: "partial and immediate  and major national ones."

He further explained that in its alliances and relationships, Hezbollah looks beyond immediate, partial gains to achieve larger, strategic national interests, a focus which he stressed is what ultimately strengthens the resilience and solidity of any partnership.

Hezbollah sincere, committed, transparent in its alliances

The MP pointed to a second factor governing Hezbollah's alliances with other Lebanese parties: clarity, stating, "We hide nothing when we want to reach an agreement with others, and we harbor nothing that we do not present to them openly."

The third factor, he said, is "sincerity in commitment." Raad continued, "No ally has ever complained about a lack of honesty on our part; rather, they have complained about our commitment to the constants we do not deviate from, while they, for their own immediate interests, are forced to try and push us to compromise some of these constants."

According to him, these factors significantly contribute to presenting a different model of conduct in Lebanon compared to other political groups.

Raad pointed out that the party does indeed pay a price for its alliances, describing it as a current and temporary cost that ultimately attracts more supporters, builds greater trust, and provides the momentum to remain steadfast on its path. In transitional phases, he noted, they deal with each stage according to its own specific circumstances.

Hezbollah's alliance with Amal Movement superior to any others

Continuing his remarks on Hezbollah's alliances, Raad reaffirmed the party's position regarding its relationship with the Amal Movement, emphasizing that it is a strategic alliance that surpasses all other alliances.

He clarified that this stems from Hezbollah's commitment to ensuring that its political environment remains unified and cohesive in its stance, aligning with all those who operate within it.

The Lebanese MP added that this alliance's strength and strategic nature lie in the fact that "the ability to understand each other is easier, and the common interests are closer." He added that "the shared doctrinal belonging also contributes to this, and the more credibility there is in achieving what we agree upon, the more solid this alliance becomes."

Hezbollah willing to ally with other parties on same principles

Regarding alliances with other Lebanese parties, the head of the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc stated that Hezbollah has not withdrawn from any alliance with others, noting that these parties are free to make their own decisions following what Hezbollah was subjected to as a result of the Israeli aggression.

Raad continued, expressing Hezbollah's complete readiness to continue its alliances, provided that they remain based on the same vision and constants, because what has truly changed are the pawns on the chessboard; however, the fundamentals remain in place, and the enemy is still the enemy, except that it has become more savage.

Hezbollah's commitment to resisting the Israeli occupation and confronting it remains steadfast, he stated, even if some have reversed their position on the Resistance's legitimacy, as those actors have their own regional, political, and self-interested calculations.

35-year-old legitimacy cannot be effaced

Raad defended the resistance's legitimacy, stating that its opponents cannot simply erase a recognition granted by the Lebanese people over 35 years ago, accusing them of trying to exploit the aftermath of the recent aggression, which "Israel" believed would finish Hezbollah, to force a change with a single, swift political maneuver.

"They cannot take away the legitimacy that the Lebanese people recognized more than 35 years ago... with a mere stroke of a pen," declared Mohammad Raad, Head of #Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc Loyalty to the Resistance in an exclusive interview for #AlMayadeen.

He also… pic.twitter.com/xO9ZuB6I0D

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) September 22, 2025

However, Hezbollah's presence remains strong and undeniable, he added, with its influence being widespread, its institutions still standing tall and developing, and its social and political networks remaining active and vibrant.

All efforts against Hezbollah doomed to fail

In his remarks to Al Mayadeen, Hezbollah's MP noted that some are banking on support from regional and international actors to alter and manipulate laws. He warned that such interventions are designed to sap determination and create obstacles to their work and momentum.

In the face of this, Raad affirmed that Hezbollah "mocks all these efforts," asserting that they "are doomed to fail, because the party possesses what the martyr Sayyed Nasrallah once possessed: determination and will."

Furthermore, the head of the Loyalty to the Resistance stated that all parties in Lebanon require serious re-evaluation and reconsideration in light of the vast number of regional and international changes and ambiguities, adding that while Hezbollah has completed its own internal assessment, it is now waiting for the others to finish theirs.

Raad stated that Hezbollah's internal assessment has defined the potential for political engagement with other parties, and that once a constitutional framework for the elections is agreed upon, specific electoral alliances will be formed.

When asked if he would be a candidate in the upcoming parliamentary elections, MP Mohammad Raad answered that the matter "has not been decided yet, and it is still too early."

Hezbollah committed to internal stability as national duty

Furthermore, the head of the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc addressed the importance Hezbollah places on Lebanon's internal stability, emphasizing that the party endures much pain for the sake of the nation's interest and the stability of the Lebanese national community and of serving the greater cause for which it strives to achieve victory.

MP Raad pointed out that Hezbollah has been exercising strategic patience domestically, as both the party and its Secretary-General have been committed to Lebanon's stability as a national responsibility, adding that this patience is both commendable and distinctive. In addition to this strategic patience, there is also the "principled patience practiced by the individual." According to him, martyred Sayyed Nasrallah was distinguished by both of these forms of patience.

Read more: Beyond words: Understanding Sayyed Nasrallah

Patience; a trait Sayyed Nasrallah enjoyed

He continued by explaining that this principled patience was the deterrent factor for martyred Sayyed Nasrallah from acting hastily or rushing a reaction, as he would only take a position after careful study, deliberation, and assessing the benefits and drawbacks.

When asked about efforts to provoke the party and force ot into internal conflict, he suggested that while the situation may not be that extreme, some actors, driven by malice, had indeed intended to bait Hezbollah and drive it into actions that would tarnish its exemplary image in the eyes of the Lebanese people and the world.

"We want to present a lofty, ethical model to the people around us, so that they may rejoice with us and find comfort in our commitments, in order to convince them of the justice of our cause and our faith," he added.

Reflecting on this issue, he recalled that martyred Sayyed Nasrallah would become furious if anyone associated with Hezbollah committed a disgraceful act that would tarnish the party's reputation, while simultaneously taking pride in waging battles that might cost a thousand martyrs when they were fought to support a just cause, establish justice, and defend the oppressed.

#AlMayadeen has released never-before-seen footage marking the first martyrdom anniversary of Sayyed #HassanNasrallah.

In the interview, #MohammadRaad, head of #Hezbollah’s Loyalty to the Resistance bloc, reflected on past visits to Iran, where party leaders thanked Sayyed… pic.twitter.com/vbCU36GgnB

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) September 22, 2025

No updates on relations with Saudi Arabia

Regarding Hezbollah's regional relations, Raad clarified that there is nothing new to report concerning relations with Saudi Arabia, explaining that the party's core aspiration, both with Saudi Arabia and other regional states, is for them to engage with the Lebanese as equals.

Furthermore, he stated the party's desire for these countries to cease interfering in Lebanon's internal affairs and to allow the Lebanese people the autonomy they are entitled to in order to determine their own political choices, alliances, and government programs.

"We are comfortable if all the Lebanese agree on a relationship with a specific regional party, seeing that it achieves common interests for Lebanon and for it, then we are ready to be partners with them," the Lebanese MP told Al Mayadeen.

Syria situation

On the topic of Syria, the head of the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc told Al Mayadeen, "First, the transformation that occurred in Syria is something we are following and monitoring, and our position on it is whatever the Syrian people themselves accept."

"Our relationship with the former regime in Syria was not at the expense of the Syrian people, but rather for the benefit of both the Syrian and Lebanese peoples in serving the cause of confronting the Israeli aggression that threatens Syria just as it threatens Lebanon," he added.

In his remarks to Al Mayadeen, MP Raad said the party is monitoring the situation in Syria, expressing hopes that the Syrians achieve stability, restore security, resume their constitutional life, and define Syria's position regarding the Palestinian cause and the struggle with the Israeli enemy, as well as its stance toward certain international powers that support Zionist aggression.
 
He stated that only after those conditions are met can they properly examine the matter, emphasizing that, for now, the situation requires more time.

Hezbollah remains in the service of the most honourable of people

Concluding his exclusive interview for Al Mayadeen, the head of the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc in the Lebanese Parliament, Mohammad Raad, affirmed that Hezbollah is "in the service of the aspirations of those whom the Supreme Martyr described as the kindest, most generous, and noblest of people," adding, "We will sacrifice our lives to preserve the interests of these people and defend their rights."

MP Raad concluded that Hezbollah and its supporters are united, drawing strength from each other, expressing his belief that as commitment to the Martyr Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's cause grows, so does their unity, emphasizing that he is confident the people will support those who continue to tread the path Sayyed Nasrallah paved.

Read more: Martyr Sayyed Nasrallah, Lebanon's liberator, breaker of hegemony