Sheikh Naim Qassem: Hezbollah supported Operation Storm Al-Aqsa/Weapons are not the reason for Hezbollah’s survival, but rather the source of Lebanon’s power

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - International Service: Sheikh Naim Qassem, Secretary General of Hezbollah in Lebanon, in an interview with Al-Mayadeen Network, raised key points about Operation Storm Al-Aqsa and Hezbollah’s position on the current developments in Lebanon and the region.

 

Referring to the date of Operation Storm Al-Aqsa, which began on October 7, Qassem said: “We were informed of this operation like the rest of the world. The brothers in the leadership of Hamas took this great and important action that changed the situation in the region.” He clarified that Hezbollah was not aware of the details of the operation in advance, and that the news reached the movement’s leader, the martyr Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, half an hour after the operation began.

 

Sheikh Qassem also emphasized the initiative of the martyr Nasrallah the day after the operation began, saying: “He ordered the rockets to be fired at the Shebaa Farms, because this is occupied Lebanese territory.” He continued that the Hezbollah council convened and decided to engage in a supporting battle, not an all-out war. This decision was made due to the need for proper preparations for diplomacy and the specific situation in the region.

 

He added: “Our goal with the support was to reduce the pressure on Gaza and force the Zionist regime to move towards a solution.” Qassem acknowledged that there was no prior coordination at the beginning of the battle and that Hezbollah was not aware of Operation Storm Al-Aqsa.

 

Sheikh Naim Qassem also spoke about the interactions between the various fronts and fields against the Israeli regime, stating: “Iran had no prior knowledge of Operation Storm al-Aqsa, and even some Hamas leaders outside Palestine were not aware of it.” He went on to emphasize that Iranian supporters provided military, political, and intelligence support at this stage.

 

Regarding the pager explosion that occurred in September, Qassem said: “This issue was discussed in the party council meeting with Martyr Nasrallah, and he was extremely angry.” At the end of the conversation, he touched on the point that Hezbollah has always been victorious and has prevented Israel from advancing into Lebanon.

 

The Secretary General of Lebanese Hezbollah stated: Hezbollah is a project, an ideology, and a path, it has a broad popular base, and it is the largest party in Lebanon; no one can doubt its sustainability. He said that “weapons are not the reason for Hezbollah’s survival; rather, they are the reason for the survival of a strong Lebanon. We do not accept that Lebanon is weak.”

 

Sheikh Naim Qassem added: "It was Hezbollah that drove Israel out of southern Lebanon. The resistance is not a threat to Lebanon's existence." He said that Hezbollah is one; its military and political leadership is unique, and there is discipline in it.