June 21, 2026
An image grab taken from Hezbollah’s al-Manar TV shows the Lebanese group’s new leader Naim Qassem during a televised address from an undisclosed location on October 30, 2024. (Photo by Al-Manar / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT “AFP PHOTO / HO / AL-MANAR” – NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem on Sunday rejected any Israeli security zone in Lebanon, after Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed his troops would remain in the country’s south for “as long as necessary”.
Israeli troops “remaining on Lebanese land is impossible. There are no security zones for Israel… we have a national army which deploys, and it is responsible for preserving sovereignty, and it is who we cooperate with,” Qassem said in a televised address.
“Israel is an aggressor and must leave. America bears full responsibility,” Qassem said, adding that “Israel will not remain in Lebanon, even if it increases its crimes, and we will defend ourselves.”
