We broke the “Greater Israel” project, says Lebanese resistance leader Sheikh Naim Qassem
The inclusion of Lebanon in the US-Iran deal is a victory, said the Hezbollah leader, although Israel has continued to attack the southern part of the country on a daily basis.
Sheikh Naim Qassem. Photo: IRNA
Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem gave a televised speech on Wednesday, June 17, congratulating Iran on its victory by ending the US-Israeli aggression after reaching a deal with the Trump administration earlier in the week. The deal stipulates ending the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon.
Read more: Iran and US announce peace deal ending the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon
“The arrogance of American tyranny was shattered, and Washington’s colonial project against Iran failed, due to the blessings of great sacrifices of the Iranian people, headed by martyred Supreme Leader Sayyed [Ali] Khamenei,” the Hezbollah leader asserted.
The Lebanese resistance leader further affirmed that Iran has emerged as a significant force after the aggression, with a considerable influence not only across the West Asia region, but also over the globe.
“The balance of power will change in a better direction that serves the interests of the peoples in the region,” Sheikh Qassem noted.
Hezbollah has broken the “Greater Israel” project
Regarding Israel’s continued aggression against Lebanon, Qassem explained that it is part of a longstanding colonial ambition that extends back to 1948.
“All indicators denote the goals Israel has been looking to achieve since 1948. It wants a disabled Lebanon, so that it can occupy and swallow it, and Netanyahu has bluntly declared that he is seeking to implement the Greater Israel project,” Sheikh Naim maintained.
He also pointed out that Israel plans to eliminate Hezbollah across military, cultural, political, social, and popular dimensions, which constitutes a genocide because it means exterminating a large segment of Lebanese society.
The Hezbollah chief warned that Israel represents an existential danger extending beyond Lebanon to the entire region. He further cautioned that Israel’s objectives are not restricted to targeting Hezbollah and its supporters, but rather aim to turn all peoples across the region into slaves.
“They want to enslave the whole region. They will kill and expel whoever does not comply with this slavery,” Qassem asserted.
“It is an existential danger. We are not fighting to retrieve a piece of land. We are not fighting to counter a minor assault. We are not fighting to solve a problem. We are defending our existence, our lives, our homeland, our future, our children, our path, and our approach,” he maintained.
Sheikh Naim underscored the importance of resistance against the Israeli occupation, noting that it began long before Hezbollah was established. He stated that his group is an extension of that resistance, which believes in, and actively works towards, liberation.
In response to those questioning the achievements of the resistance in that regard, Sheikh Naim said:
“Questions have always been raised such as what have you done by resisting? Where have you reached?”
“We have broken Israel’s project. We have prevented it from eliminating us, and from controlling our land by establishing itself on it. We have prevented it from implementing the Greater Israel step,” he answered.
Lebanon emerged victorious despite Israel’s continued aggression
Although Israel continued its aggression on various areas of southern Lebanon up to the time of writing, analysts see a broader shift taking place. They view Washington’s acquiescence to Tehran by including Lebanon in the US-Iran deal as a strategic victory for the Axis of Resistance.
Officials from the Trump and Netanyahu administrations traded blows after the deal was announced, exposing a remarkable tension between the allies, and validating the argument about the victory of the resistance coalition.
US Vice President JD Vance lashed out at Israeli officials during a White House press conference on Thursday, June 18, after they criticized the deal and even US President Donald Trump.
“Donald J. Trump is the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time. And he happens to be the head of state of the world’s superpower. If I was in the cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world,” Vance threatened.
