Israeli Occupation Threatens Region, Beyond, Hezbollah Warns

Sheikh Qassem described Israel as a "usurper and an occupying regime" that poses a significant threat to the region and the world. In his televised address, Qassem emphasized the importance of resistance against Israeli aggression and its backers.

"This regime does not limit its occupation to Palestine; it seeks to expand its control, as Palestine alone is insufficient for its ambitions," he said, underscoring that Israel aims to dominate Arab and Muslim territories.

Qassem emphasized the need for resistance in the face of ongoing violence by the Israeli regime and its allies, stating, "Israel and those behind it wage war and commit massacres, leaving us no choice but to take a stand."

He also highlighted a joint US-Israeli scheme in the Middle East, saying, "America, the biggest devil, wants a new Middle East. Netanyahu shares the same vision. This means the US and Israel are deliberately carrying out this genocide."

Qassem affirmed that Hezbollah will not be defeated in its war with Israel, asserting, "The Resistance will not be defeated because it owns the land and because its fighters are martyrs who accept nothing but a life of honor."

He warned Tel Aviv that if it wants Zionist settlers to return to the northern occupied territories, it must cease its assaults on Gaza and Lebanon. "The solution is to cease fire, and after the ceasefire, the settlers will return to the north," he said.

Qassem warned that continued aggression would lead to the abandonment of more settlements, putting hundreds of thousands, possibly over two million, settlers at risk.

Referring to the operation led by Palestinian Resistance groups in October 2023, Qassem said the attack was an effort to "get rid of the occupier." He stressed that after 75 years of occupation, Palestinians have the right to resist and stop Israel's expansion.

He criticized the international community for not addressing the root cause of the conflict, urging, "Instead of questioning why the Al-Aqsa Storm occurred, ask why the occupation still exists."

Qassem reiterated Hezbollah's commitment to the Palestinian cause, stating, "Our war with Israel began with the pager explosions," referencing the September 17 attacks on Hezbollah members and the assassination of its leader, Seyed Hassan Nasrallah, on September 27.

He said Hezbollah's direct engagement with Israel over the past two weeks had exceeded expectations. The resistance group's fighters have engaged Israeli forces in various locations, and their successes were "beyond expectations."

Qassem also referred to Hezbollah's drone strike on an Israeli training camp near Binyamina, south of Haifa, which reportedly killed four Israeli soldiers and injured many others.

Concluding his address, Qassem issued a warning: "If the war persists, more settlements will become uninhabitable. If the Zionist regime chooses to continue, we will continue."

In an earlier speech on October 8, Qassem had assured that Hezbollah's leadership and military capabilities remain intact despite the ongoing conflict.