In a landmark address commemorating the first anniversary of the martyrdom of senior Hezbollah commander Ibrahim Aqil and his comrades in the Radwan Force, Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem reaffirmed the steadfastness of the Resistance and called on the entire region, from governments to peoples, to recognize the existential threat posed by the Israeli entity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sheikh Qassem began his speech by paying tribute to the martyred commander Hajj Abdul Qader, eulogizing him as a pivotal figure in the Islamic Resistance. \u201cMartyr Abdul Qader stood against the 1982 invasion, was in charge of central training in the early 1990s, fought in the Ansariya operation, and was one of the leaders of the 2006 war,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also recalled martyr Aqil\u2019s participation in the Syrian front, particularly in Qusayr and Qalamoun, and highlighted his long-standing role as deputy to the Ummah’s martyr, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, since 2008. \u201cWe draw lessons from the stances of martyr Abdul Qader and recognize his great sacrifices for the liberation of land, sovereignty, and independence,\u201d Qassem noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remembering the Radwan leaders<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sheikh Qassem detailed the events of September 20, 2024, when Israeli warplanes bombed a gathering of Radwan commanders in the southern suburb of Beirut. The attack martyred 18 Radwan Force leaders and nearly 50 civilians, including women and children, with four still unaccounted for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among those honored was Commander Ahmad Mahmoud Wehbe, honored as a veteran of the Resistance since its foundation and a liberated prisoner from Israeli prisons. Wehbe served as the head of the Radwan Force until his martyrdom in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Hezbollah leader also announced the recent passing of Mazloum Adloun, a veteran fighter who took part in numerous Resistance operations and served as the head of the armored corps during the 2006 war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A region on the brink<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Turning to the broader political scene, Sheikh Qassem warned of an \u201cexceptionally dangerous political juncture\u201d across the region. He emphasized that the Israeli entity, planted by colonial powers at the beginning of the 20th century, continues to operate as a Western colonial outpost with expansionist goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis usurping presence was imposed to serve as a Western extension, a tool for America, and a scarecrow for the region. Its purpose is to obstruct independence and suppress sovereignty,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sheikh Qassem accused “Israel” of reaching \u201cunprecedented levels of savagery and lawlessness,\u201d fully backed by the United States. \u201cIt respects neither humanitarian nor legal norms,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On normalization and soft warfare<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n He further argued that soft warfare tactics, including sanctions, the Madrid peace process, and the so-called Abraham Accords, have all failed to yield the quick victories Washington and “Israel” hoped for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat is why genocide has become their only viable option,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He added that after the Israeli strike on Qatar, the scope of the target list has expanded dramatically. \u201cThe target now includes Resistance movements, regional governments, peoples, and any geographic or political obstacle standing in the way of Greater Israel.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Iran are now all targets for the Israeli enemy, he listed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n ‘Israel is the central threat’<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sheikh Naim Qassem emphasized that the only way to confront the existential threat posed by “Israel” is through regional unity: governments, peoples, and Resistance movements must come together around a shared purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIsrael must be identified as the central threat, not the Resistance. This danger is comprehensive, targeting Resistance movements, regimes, peoples, Arabs, Muslims, Christians, and humanity at large,\u201d he warned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sheikh Qassem calls on KSA to open ‘new chapter’<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In a bold political message, Sheikh Qassem called on Saudi Arabia to open a new chapter in its relationship with the Resistance. He proposed a dialogue based on three principles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n An open discussion that addresses mutual concerns and secures mutual interests;<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recognition that “Israel”, not the Resistance, is the enemy;<\/p>\n\n\n\n A willingness to freeze past disputes and move forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He staunchly reiterated that Hezbollah\u2019s arms are aimed exclusively at the Israeli enemy, not at Lebanon, not at Saudi Arabia, and not at any other country or group worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n US ‘not a neutral party’<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sheikh Qassem harshly criticized US policy, noting that Washington explicitly acts in favor of “Israel” and cannot be trusted as a neutral party. \u201cHow can we accept any proposal from America when it declares it works in the interest of Israel? We reject their demands for concessions,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He also pointed out that the Lebanese Army is denied advanced weaponry by the US. \u201cAmerica only gives the Lebanese Army what it needs to manage internal affairs. Any weapon that could potentially threaten Israel, its air force, or military capabilities, is strictly forbidden.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sheikh Qassem called for unity to rebuild Lebanon. \u201cLet us stand together to expel Israel and rebuild our country. Let us hold parliamentary elections on time, prioritize reconstruction, speed up financial and economic reform, combat corruption, and establish a national security strategy through positive dialogue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Resistance will stand tall against all odds\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n He concluded with a reaffirmation of the Resistance\u2019s path: \u201cThis Resistance will remain steadfast with its head held high, despite Israel, despite America, because it is the Resistance of martyrs, of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, of Sayyed Hashem Safieddine, of Abdul Qader, and many others.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Resistance’s supporters remain firm in their commitment to its weapons because they have seen with their own eyes the fruits of liberation, deterrence, and national presence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe engage in dialogue from a position of strength,\u201d he said, adding that the Resistance\u2019s stance is rooted in sacrifice and unwavering faith in the right to confront and expel the occupier. He emphasized that Hezbollah would accept nothing short of full liberation and is ready to face all challenges to maintain its honor and independence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hezbollah’s leader stressed that any confrontation with the Israeli project is existential, not only for the Resistance but for the Lebanese nation as a whole. \u201cIn such a battle, everything becomes expendable,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He called on the Lebanese government to assume responsibility in confronting Israeli aggression, urging it to raise its voice daily so that the world may hear Lebanon\u2019s protest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He also encouraged officials to think \u201coutside the box\u201d and questioned why the political establishment continues to pursue choices that risk internal strife. While praising the government\u2019s recent position on the attacks, he stressed that such a stance must become routine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sheikh Qassem reiterated Hezbollah\u2019s readiness to carry out its duties alongside the Lebanese Army, provided it is in confrontation with the Israeli enemy. He concluded by invoking historical precedent, stating that all empires, no matter how powerful, eventually collapsed when plagued by corruption and injustice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cInjustice will fall, even if after a while,\u201d he said. \u201cWe will not be enslaved. We will remain free.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In a landmark address commemorating the first anniversary of the martyrdom of senior Hezbollah commander Ibrahim Aqil and his comrades in the Radwan Force, Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem reaffirmed the steadfastness of the Resistance and called on the entire region, from governments to peoples, to recognize the existential threat posed by the Israeli […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":334,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-333","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-international","8":"category-muslim-world"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/qeyadat.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/333","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/qeyadat.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/qeyadat.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qeyadat.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qeyadat.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=333"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/qeyadat.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/333\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":335,"href":"https:\/\/qeyadat.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/333\/revisions\/335"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qeyadat.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/334"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/qeyadat.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=333"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qeyadat.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=333"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qeyadat.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=333"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}