Israel must unconditionally leave Lebanon – Hezbollah Chief says amid US–Iran negotiations

Hezbollah leader, Naim Qassem stated on Friday, June 26,  that Israel has “no option” but to completely withdraw from occupied Lebanese territory, framing a recent US-Iran diplomatic understanding as a defeat for both Washington and Israel.
His televised address coincided with Ashura, a major day of communal mourning for Shia Muslims. In Beirut’s southern suburbs, tens of thousands of supporters gathered, waving Hezbollah and Iranian flags.
The event marked the largest organized gathering by the group since the regional escalation began.“Israel has no option but to withdraw completely from every inch of our Lebanese land,” Qassem said during the broadcast. “Israel must leave unconditionally.”
Hezbollah initially launched rocket attacks following targeted strikes that killed senior Iranian figures. The subsequent military response and ground operations have resulted in significant casualties, with Lebanese authorities reporting more than 4,200 deaths.
 

The speech comes amid complex, multi-track diplomatic efforts. Direct talks between Lebanese officials and Israel began in Washington under US pressure. While an initial truce was announced on April 17, it failed to permanently halt hostilities.
A fresh ceasefire framework was proposed this month, tied to wider regional negotiations between Washington and Tehran. However, Lebanese authorities have consistently attempted to separate their own border talks from the broader US-Iran negotiations.
As Lebanese and Israeli delegations convene for a fifth round of talks in Washington, Qassem maintained a hardline stance on the terms of any final agreement. He stated that his group would accept “no normalization, no cancellation of the state of hostility, and no gains for Israel.
”He also expressed gratitude for Tehran’s continuous backing, describing the current diplomatic landscape as an official admission of defeat by the United States and Israel.
The conflict continues to exact a heavy toll on civilians. Lebanese authorities reported six additional deaths from airstrikes this week alone.
For many attendees at the Beirut rally, the stance remains unyielding despite the destruction. Abeer Ayash, a 48-year-old resident who lost her home and multiple family members to the strikes, spoke to reporters about her enduring commitment to the movement.
“I am here today for the resistance fighters in the south who are sacrificing for us and for the entire nation,” Ayash said, invoking the names of current and former leadership figures. “We will not abandon this path.”