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 leader Naim Qassem on Friday said Israel has “no option” but to withdraw from Lebanese areas it occupies, adding that the Iran-US deal that reduced fighting with Israel was an American-Israeli defeat.
His televised speech was made as Shia Muslims across the country were marking Ashura, a day of mourning for the death of Hussein, a key figure in Shia Islam.
Tens of thousands of supporters participated in a ceremony in Beirut’s southern suburbs waving Hezbollah and Iranian flags in the largest gathering organised by the pro-Iran group since the outbreak of war in March.
“Israel has no option but to withdraw completely from every inch of our Lebanese land… Israel must leave unconditionally,” Qassem said.
