Beirut: Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem announced that the militant group has rejected direct negotiations with Israel and will continue its “struggle” as ambassadors from Lebanon and Israel prepare for talks in Washington.
“We will be in the battle until our last breath,” Qassem said in a televised address on al-Manar TV.
Qassem stressed that the “US-backed Israeli aggression” is against the whole of Lebanon, not just Hezbollah. He added that the group and its supporters have shown resilience despite heavy losses and destruction.
He accused Israel of not upholding the November 2024 ceasefire agreement, which was meant to halt fighting and ensure the withdrawal of troops from Lebanese territory.
The 2024 agreement ended a 15-month conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. While major hostilities have ceased, both sides frequently accuse each other of violations.
Israel has acknowledged that Hezbollah has failed to disarm, while Hezbollah has acknowledged that Israeli forces remain in Lebanon despite a withdrawal deadline.
Edited by Chhouk Bora
