Wasekjen Hezbollah: Our Resistance Is Sah And Defensive To Opposite Occupation

Naim Qassem. (Wikimedia Commons/Sebastian Baryli)

JAKARTA - Deputy Secretary-General Hezbollah Naim Qassem in his speech Tuesday confirmed that his group's resistance was legitimate and defensive to oppose the occupation, saying Israel wanted to create a New Middle East.

In his third appearance in public after Hassan Nasrallah's death, he said he had promised the late Secretary General Hezbollah, "We will not give up on the path of resistance and we will defeat Zionist enemies and eliminate them from our land and territory in Lebanon," quoted from Mehr, October 16.

"The Zionist occupation regime has based its survival on genocide, the transfer of helpless people, and crime," Qassem added.

"Before you ask why (Operation) Hurricane Al-Aqsa happened, ask why the occupation occurred from the start," said Deputy Secretary General Hezbollah.

"The Al-Aqsa storm (Operation 7 October) is the result of 75 years of occupation and this is a legitimate right," he stressed, adding "Palestinians have the right to take action to expel the occupation regime and prevent continued occupation."

"Israel wants the entire Arab region and Islam," he continued warning countries in the region, further describing the regime as a real danger to the region and the world.

"Netanyahu is looking for a new Middle East," Qassem said, adding "We are facing a new Middle East danger that wants to look the way the US and Zionists want."

The Hezbollah official said the resistance in Lebanon would continue to defend Palestinian rights, saying "we are seeking a ceasefire for Gaza."

"Our resistance is legitimate and defensive, and the goal is to oppose the occupation and free the land," said Qassem.

On the occasion Qassem said what is happening at the moment is an expansionist project, stressing "Palestiniana must be released."

"We in Lebanon do not consider ourselves separated from Palestine and we do not consider the region separate from Palestine," he said.

"The Zionist enemy was in Lebanon for 22 years and was expelled for the resistance," he said.

"Since last week, we have started implementing new equations by targeting Haifa and its surroundings every day with the aim of causing real harm to the enemy," he added.