Hezbollah’s Naim Qassem Highlights Strong Ties With Iran, Reaffirms Resistance Against Israel

Hezbollah’s Deputy Secretary-General Naim Qassem highlighted on Tuesday the group’s close alliance with Iran, stating that the group was “proud of Iran and its role in the region.”

He reinforced Hezbollah’s belief in the legitimacy of their resistance against Israel, stating that “Lebanon cannot be separated from Palestine.”

Qassem’s remarks come amid expanding conflict with Israel, as he recounted the beginning of Hezbollah’s conflict: “Our war with Israel began with the pager bombing.”

An estimated 3,000 pagers carried by Hezbollah members beeped several times before exploding simultaneously last month, killing at least 12 people and injuring thousands more across Lebanon and parts of Syria.

Israel’s Mossad spy agency reportedly planted a small amount of explosives inside the Taiwan-made pagers ordered by Lebanese group Hezbollah months before the detonations, security sources claimed.

He further noted that Hezbollah elements have been making progress along the border, signaling ongoing clashes in the region.

“Our missiles reach Haifa and beyond,” Qassem said, highlighting the group’s potential to strike deep within Israeli territory.

He also issued a statement regarding the situation for Israeli civilians: “The residents of northern Israel cannot return except with a ceasefire.”

Qassem was critical of Israel’s actions, describing them as “destructive” and accusing Israel of working with the United States to eliminate Hezbollah. “Israel seeks to eliminate Hezbollah with American support,” he said.

Reflecting on recent losses, Qassem acknowledged the toll on Hezbollah’s leadership: “Israel’s strike on our leadership was severe,” he admitted, adding, “We felt deep pain after the blow to our leadership.”

Iran and Iraq will both stage funerals for Revolutionary Guard General Abbas Nilforushan, killed in an Israeli airstrike alongside Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, the Guards’ news agency said Sunday.

Nilforushan, a top commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force foreign operations arm, was killed on September 27 alongside Nasrallah in the strike on south Beirut.

Qassem also questioned the absence of key international powers in addressing the ongoing conflict: “Where are America, Britain, and France in all of this?