Hezbollah Chief Naim Qassem Warns Israel of Battlefield Hell

Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem stated Tuesday that his group will turn the battlefield into “hell” for Israel, vowing that his fighters will not stop fighting and will respond to all violations.

In a statement broadcast on the al-Manar television channel, Qassem told the group’s fighters that Hezbollah would not return to the conditions that existed before March 2. He emphasized that the group would not surrender and would continue to defend Lebanon and its people regardless of the duration of the conflict or the scale of sacrifices required.

The remarks follow a volatile security environment in southern Lebanon. Despite a ceasefire reached in November 2024, Israel continued to strike Lebanon and occupied five hills in the south. A new ceasefire was later established on April 17, though Hezbollah has since stated it will respond to Israeli violations. Currently, Israeli troops occupy a “yellow zone” that extends 10 kilometers into south Lebanon, while Israel has intensified military operations in the south and east.

Qassem specifically addressed the status of Hezbollah’s arsenal, asserting that the group’s weapons are a domestic matter and should be excluded from any diplomatic discussions with Israel. “Nobody outside Lebanon has anything to do with the weapons, the resistance… This is an internal Lebanese matter and not part of negotiations with the enemy,” Qassem said.

Regarding the diplomatic process, Qassem called for indirect negotiations, stating that the responsibility for negotiations lies with the Lebanese state. He indicated that Hezbollah would cooperate with the state to end the war and the occupation through these indirect channels, while maintaining that the group’s internal affairs remain sovereign.

Israel and Lebanon are scheduled to hold a third round of direct talks in Washington this week.