Qassem says to talk 'defense strategy' after 'existential threat' ends

Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem has said that his group senses the presence of an “existential threat,” citing Israel’s “genocidal war” in Gaza, its attacks on Syria and Iran, the new Islamist rulers in Damascus, and the sectarian massacres in Syria.

“There is an existential threat to the resistance, the resistance’s environment and the resistance’s supporters, as well as an existential threat to Lebanon with all its sects,” Qassem said in a televised speech commemorating slain Hezbollah commander Ali Karaki.

“Today, if a decision is taken, (Syria-based extremist Sunni fighters) do not need a long time to come through eastern Lebanon to Lebanon to carry out extraordinary attacks. Today we are before a real Israeli threat and a threat from Israel’s proxies that can be used one way or another,” Qassem warned.

He added that Hezbollah is ready to “defend” against any new Israeli attack on Lebanon.

“If we defend and incur major losses, and this is expected if we defend, we would have hope that confrontation might enable us to block them and open a door to solutions and liberation,” Qassem said.

Addressing those in Lebanon calling for Hezbollah’s disarmament, Qassem said: “Be confident that after we eliminate this threat, and after the needed is achieved, we will be willing to discuss the national security strategy and the defense strategy and to achieve results that serve Lebanon’s strength and Lebanon’s continuity.”

“I call on you not to offer a service to Israel. Together we can be stronger and through confrontation America cannot achieve its goals,” he added.

“We are ready for confrontation to achieve one of two good things: victory or martyrdom. We do not have surrender. We will not submit to Israel and Israel will not be handed over the weapons by us,” Qassem went on to say.

He added: “We are ready for any action that leads to Lebanese understandings, Lebanese capability and Lebanese strength. But we will not give this under any form of threats … Let no one think of such a course.”

“We know that confrontation would be very costly, but surrender would leave us with nothing,” Qassem said.

Noting that Hezbollah would not initiate any attack on Israel but would rather “defend if Israel attacks,” the Hezbollah leader called on everyone “not to bet on an inter-Shiite rift” between Hezbollah and Speaker Nabih Berri, nor on a dispute among President Joseph Aoun, Berri and PM Nawaf Salam.

Aoun, Berri and Salam are “cooperating” and “have enough wisdom and awareness and recognition of threats and reality in order to pull the country out of its crisis in a proper way,” Qassem added.