Hezbollah not merely a military force but integrated strategic project

In an interview with Al-Manar TV aired on Sunday, Sheikh Qassem said resistance for Hezbollah is not a temporary tactic or a standalone military option but an “integrated way of life” embedded in the organization’s identity.

“We do not tire, and the party’s journey is strong and firm, and we cannot resort to surrender just because of a feeling of exhaustion. Instead, we continue to defend and stand firm,” he said, highlighting the religious and ethical commitment that animates the movement.

He stressed that the spirit of martyrdom permeates the group, from front-line fighters to the families who have borne heavy sacrifices. “The characteristic of the martyrdom-seeker belongs to every individual in the party, and it means facing difficulties and sacrificing everything precious to achieve the goal, no matter how difficult the path,” he said.

Hezbollah resilience hailed

Reflecting on last year’s confrontation with the Israeli regime, Sheikh Qassem praised the movement’s resilience and defended the decision to support Gaza as correct, a choice he said would be taken again if circumstances repeated.

He described the fighters on the front lines as exemplars of sacrifice who “fought until their last breath.”

He said that hundreds of resistors halted the advance of more than 75,000 Israeli soldiers, and that that steadfastness prevented Israeli forces from reaching the Litani River, penetrating toward Beirut, or achieving their military objectives in Lebanon.

Sheikh Qassem also pointed to the role of Hezbollah’s leadership in bolstering fighters’ morale, saying the martyrdom of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah gave combatants “additional momentum” that reinforced their resilience and self-sacrifice.

Addressing a high-profile operation that targeted the home of Zionist regime’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Sheikh Qassem said it was carried out on the basis of “precise intelligence work and a clear political decision,” comparable, he added, to the targeting of Tel Aviv with resistance rockets.

He praised the military command’s discipline throughout the operations and warned that operations could have continued had the confrontation persisted.

Responding to rumors that Iran led the battle for Hezbollah, he rejected them and emphasized that Hezbollah’s achievements were the product of the group’s collective effort and continuous coordination between its political and military leadership.

He acknowledged that while Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, offered "various forms of support" and closely followed the battle’s needs, "there was not any direct interference in leading the war itself."

Shift in Hezbollah tactics

Sheikh Qassem described the “Owners of Might” battle as a “qualitative shift to a new phase” in tactics, leadership and public engagement.

He said the accumulated power built by the resistance from 2006 to 2023 formed the foundation for deterrence against the occupation and that tactics and presentation methods have evolved accordingly.

He underscored the centrality of popular backing in Hezbollah’s resilience.

“Through you, the journey becomes stronger, and you are an integral part of the resistance and its victories,” he declared.

He pointed to mass public support and the cultivation of new generations through scouts as the “living image of the public’s will and the making of the resistance’s future.”

‘Israel expansion a threat’

Sheikh Qassem asserted that Hezbollah does not initiate war but takes the position of legitimate defense against an enemy that seeks to annihilate the people and occupy the land.

He warned that Zionist regime, if left unchallenged, would expand and dominate, threatening the future of coming generations.

“We are not the ones leading our people toward bad choices, but toward great choices that preserve dignity and establish a better future,” he said, arguing that resistance is the necessary option to defend land, people and national dignity.

“We say before the whole world that we will remain a resistance, even if we are left with only our fingernails or a stick, and we will not stop,” he added, reaffirming Hezbollah’s commitment to sustained deterrence.

He warned that even if Zionist leaders contemplate a large-scale war, their objectives “will not be achieved” because the resistance has built a “fortress of power” since 2006.

Sheikh Qassem called on Zionist regime’s leaders to adhere to the existing ceasefire and said Hezbollah remains bound by Lebanon’s official agreements and ready to defend the country.

He also criticized the Lebanese state for failing to act against repeated Israeli violations.

“Ten months have passed since the agreement, and the state has not acted. It must pressure, shout, and take responsibility; this is a public experiment for everyone to see.”