Sheikh Qassem said that the Zionist enemy was supposed to transition into a phase of withdrawal and cessation of aggression following the agreement, but instead continued to wager on a change in circumstances. He considered that the head of the occupation government, Benjamin Netanyahu, succeeded in dragging US President Donald Trump into a war against Iran, based on the belief that striking Iran would weaken the resistance forces in the region.
He added that the American-Zionist project aimed to eliminate the "head of the resistance" in the Arab and Islamic worlds. However, this project collapsed, he emphasized, noting that Iran emerged stronger despite the heavy sacrifices, and that the resistance in Lebanon managed to stand firm despite the sheer scale of the aggression and targeting.
He pointed out that the Zionist enemy executed thousands of airstrikes on Lebanon, and Iran was subjected to tens of thousands of raids and attacks, yet none of this achieved the war's declared objectives. He regarded the current phase as one of reaping the results of breaking the American-Israeli project aimed at the resistance.
Regarding the ceasefire, Sheikh Qassem stated that the Zionist enemy is presenting its own interpretation of the agreement, which relies on Hezbollah's commitment to a ceasefire in exchange for the occupation's continued freedom of movement and aggression. He maintained that this does not constitute a ceasefire, but rather a continuation of the aggression.
He explained that all initiatives proposed over the past months began by demanding that the resistance halt firing for specified periods to test the occupation’s commitment, but the enemy failed to adhere. He stressed that the resistance used to commit to the proposed initiatives, only to return to responding once the attacks continued.
Furthermore, he emphasized that Hezbollah has made a decision not to return to the status quo prior to March 2nd. He asserted that a ceasefire means a complete cessation of aggression by land, sea, and air, as well as a halt to all demolition, incursions, and positioning operations within occupied Lebanese territories, paving the way for a withdrawal according to a clear timetable.
He affirmed that any understanding with the Zionist enemy must be based on mutual security and the deployment of the Lebanese Army south of the Litani River, stressing that the resistance rejects any projects concerning disarmament or the imposition of new political conditions.
Sheikh Qassem stated that the current phase differs from previous ones because the Zionist project has been broken. Consequently, it is no longer possible to return to the discussions that were on the table back when the enemy was in a position of strength and superiority.
He concluded by saying that the resistance no longer accepts any equation that allows the Zionist enemy entity freedom of movement and aggression under the guise of a ceasefire. He emphasized that any breach by the enemy will be confronted, and the resistance will deal with any aggression in the manner it deems appropriate. He reiterated that the resistance remains steadfast in Lebanon's right to full sovereignty over its territory, rejecting the continuation of the occupation or the imposition of new realities on Lebanese soil.
