Sheikh Qassem: Lebanon stability depends on ending Israeli aggression
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Hezbollah’s Sheikh Naim Qassem says the Israeli occupation failed to achieve its goals and warns the US against dragging Lebanon into the “Greater Israel” project.
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Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem during a public address on October 21, 2025 (Screengrab)
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem affirmed that “Israel” has failed to achieve its objectives in Lebanon despite broad international complicity, stressing that Lebanon’s stability is contingent upon halting Israeli violations and aggression.
Speaking during the release of the book “Singing and Music: Research by Imam Khamenei,” Sheikh Qassem stated that the American intervention in Lebanon and the region “is extremely malicious,” describing Washington as the primary force “leading genocide and massacres.” He warned the US administration and its special envoy, Tom Barrack, against their continued threats to Lebanon and attempts to make it part of a so-called “Greater Israel.”
Sheikh Qassem asserted that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plans for “Greater Israel” ultimately serve US imperial interests, adding that the future of the Israeli entity “remains uncertain despite all the killing and destruction.” He further dismissed former US President Donald Trump’s recent performance at the Sharm el-Sheikh summit as a “display of domination, not peace.”
Hezbollah’s weapons part of Lebanon’s strength and sovereignty
The Hezbollah official underscored that Lebanon “will not give ‘Israel’ or America what they want as long as there is a proud and resilient people willing to sacrifice.” He reaffirmed that Hezbollah’s weapons are an integral part of Lebanon’s strength and sovereignty, emphasizing that disarmament “will not solve the problem, because Israel does not want a strong Lebanon.”
Sheikh Qassem called on the Lebanese government to shoulder its responsibilities in defending national sovereignty, overseeing reconstruction efforts, and ending the misconduct of key officials. He urged action against the Central Bank governor and the justice minister, saying “they should not be employees serving Washington or Tel Aviv.”
He stressed that Lebanon “is not a prison for its citizens” and must be governed by a national administration that acts in the interest of its people rather than external powers.
Israeli shelling targets southern Lebanon
Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri told Al Mayadeen that the Israeli occupation had requested, through intermediaries back in March, to engage in political negotiations, a request which Lebanon rejected, revealing that Beirut insisted that any discussions remain limited to military representatives, emphasizing:
In an interview with Al Mayadeen, Mitri revealed that the United States had offered what it described as a mediation initiative, which Beirut initially understood would involve Washington pressuring “Israel” to abide by previously signed agreements, a commitment that never materialized.
Mitri stated that the proposal presented by the US envoy, and accepted by Lebanon, was ultimately rejected by the Israeli side. He noted that “Israel” has continued its daily violations of the cessation of hostilities agreed upon on November 27 of last year, disregarding the terms of the arrangement.
Speaking on the ongoing al-Naqoura negotiations, Mitri explained that talks remain “stuck in a loop,” as “Israel neither complies nor shows any genuine intention to comply” through these discussions.
'Israel' pursues aggression against Lebanon
"Israel" has adopted an aggressive stance against Lebanon since the ceasefire reached in November of 2024, launching near-daily aggressions, airstrikes, and surveillance missions across Lebanese lands.
One Lebanese civilian was killed on October 18 in the southern town of Deir Kifa after an Israeli drone fired three missiles at a bulldozer, according to a report by Al Mayadeen's correspondent citing the Ministry of Public Health's Emergency Operations Center.
On October 16, Israeli occupation forces launched a series of violent airstrikes against Lebanon, marking a serious escalation and a continued violation of the ceasefire declaration that has been in place since November 27, 2024.
In the first wave, the Israeli occupation launched a drone strike on the al-Dabsheh hill on the outskirts of the town of Kfar Tibnit, followed by another drone strike on the Kawthariya al-Siyyed-al-Sharqiya main road.
