AhlulBayt News Agency: New Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem vowed on Wednesday that the so-called “absolute victory” which Israeli Prime Minister promises will turn out to be an “absolute defeat” to Israelis.
In his first televised address after his election as a secretary general after martyrdom of former S.G. Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah, Sheikh Qassem said that Hezbollah is fully ready for a long war, affirming that the Lebanese resistance group will emerge victorious and more powerful after the war.
His eminence described the resistance in Gaza and Lebanon as epic, as he stressed that Hezbollah will never beg for a settlement and that the war will end according to the resistance’s terms.
“The Israeli enemy won’t be able to impose its conditions,” Sheikh Qassem said via Al-Manar.
He said that following the blows Hezbollah has suffered since the pager attacks on September 17, and then the assassination of its senior leaders including former Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah, the resistance managed to rise and recover.
“Heavy Responsibility”
Sheikh Qassem started his speech by mourning Head of Hezbollah Executive Council Sayyed Hashem Safeiddine and Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar.
“Sayyed Safeiddine was one of the most prominent people whom late Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah relied on.”
On Sinwar, Sheikh Qassem said: “He was the icon of heroism and resistance for Palestine and the free people of the world. Martyr Sinwar scared the enemy in his prison, in his freedom, and he will continue to scare them after martyrdom.”
He then thanked Hezbollah’s leadership and the Shoura Council over their trust as they chose him to assume this “heavy responsibility.”
“This responsibility is the will and the legacy of martyr Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah and other senior leaders who martyred,” Sheikh Qassem said.
He vowed that under his leadership, “Hezbollah will continue to work on the same path of martyr Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah.”
“Global War”
He affirmed that supporting Gaza was necessary to confront the Israeli scheme which threatens the entire region.
“The Zionist entity needs no pretext to stage an aggression, it has been attacking the region for 75 years,” Sheikh Qassem said, stressing that “through resistance, we will disrupt the Israeli scheme, and we are capable of doing so.”
He described the current war as a global one staged by ‘Israel’, US and other Western countries.
“This war employs all capabilities with all brutal means,” his eminence stated.
He hailed the epic steadfastness of the resistance in Gaza and Lebanon, saying that these acts of resistance “will make the future of our generations.”
“Battle of Mighty Warriors”
Hezbollah’s new S.G. stressed, meanwhile, that the Lebanese resistance group doesn’t fight on behalf of anyone in the region.
“Our project is to defend our homeland and to support Gaza. Iran only supports the resistance; we welcome any support by any Arab state.”
On the other hand, Sheikh Qassem stated that despite the heavy blows Hezbollah has suffered, it has managed to rise and recover, affirming that the Lebanese resistance group is fully ready for a long war.
“If the pager attack had targeted any army, it would have collapsed. Hezbollah’s capabilities are great and are compatible with a long war.”
“The Israeli occupation admitted its failure in face of Hezbollah drones and rockets. We stage our strikes within a well-studied field program.”
Sheikh Qassem said that the resistance’s ability to set up rocket launchers despite the continuous Israeli airstrikes is exceptional, adding that Hezbollah men “are fighting with honor.”
He said that the Hezbollah leadership decided to name this war the “Battle of Mighty Warriors.”
“Final Victory is Ours”
Addressing the Israelis, Sheikh Qassem said: “You will be defeated certainly, because the land is ours and our people are united around us. Get out of our land in order to lessen your losses or else, you will pay an unprecedented price.”
He vowed that “Hezbollah will emerge from this confrontation stronger and victorious,” stressing: “The final victory is ours.”
“If Netanyahu vows ‘absolute victory,’ we promise you absolute defeat.”
Sheikh Qassem concluded his speech by citing a quoted by martyr Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah: “Era of defeats has gone, it’s era of victories.”