Hezbollah Leader: No Israeli Military Presence Tolerable in Lebanon

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem declared on Sunday that Lebanon cannot accept any Israeli military presence within its borders, asserting that only the Lebanese army is capable of safeguarding the nation. "There is no place for a 'safe zone' or Israeli military bases within Lebanese territory," Qassem stated during a speech broadcast by Al-Manar TV.

Qassem accused Israel of reinterpreting the November 27, 2024, ceasefire agreement to justify its ongoing military operations in Lebanon and attempting to force Hezbollah to accept this interpretation. He outlined conditions for future mutual understanding with Israel, including a complete halt to Israeli attacks, full withdrawal of its forces, and the deployment of Lebanese troops and defense capabilities in the southern region up to the Litani River.

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There is no place for a 'safe zone' or Israeli military bases within Lebanese territory.

While Hezbollah remains committed to observing any comprehensive ceasefire, Qassem stressed that "continuous Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement" will not be tolerated. He also directed criticism at the United States, suggesting that Washington could stop Israeli attacks on Lebanon if it chose to, but instead provides support for Israel's continued military operations.

Earlier, Israeli Defense Minister expressed that the Israeli army would not withdraw from the so-called "safe zone" (Yellow Line) in southern Lebanon, despite the announcement of a ceasefire agreement on November 19. The agreement, which includes Lebanon, is part of a memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran to end hostilities on all fronts. The continued presence of Israeli troops in Lebanon poses a significant obstacle to the fragile U.S.-Iran understanding.

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continuous Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement