Hezbollah Calls US-Iran Pact a ‘Defeat’ for Israel

Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem has hailed a recent Memorandum of Understanding between Iran and the United States as “the official declaration of the defeat of the US and Israel.” Speaking during an Ashura Day address, Qassem demanded Israel’s unconditional withdrawal from Lebanon, asserting that Israeli forces are present not because of his group, but because they intend to “annex and occupy” the nation. He firmly rejected any disarmament of Hezbollah north of the Litani River, insisting that the status of their weapons will only be addressed internally after the occupation ends. Emphasizing strategic patience and resilience, Qassem urged the Lebanese government to unite its ranks and stop implementing the “impositions and interests” of foreign adversaries.