In speech praising Iran, Hezbollah leader says group faces 'major confrontation' led by US and ‘Zionist aggression’

The Muslim world faces “a major confrontation” with the U.S., the West, and Israel, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said in a message to party fighters on Saturday. 

Amidst the growing tensions in the region and concerns of a U.S.-led escalation, the Hezbollah leader issued an unusual message on Saturday, directed to the terrorists injured during the fighting against Israel in 2024. 

“The Islamic Ummah [entire Islamic community] is facing a major confrontation led by the American tyrant along with the other Western countries and the brutal aggression of the Zionist regime,” Sheikh Naim Qassem said in a letter attribute to him, which was widely shared on Hezbollah-affiliated news sites over the weekend. 

In a letter full of Shia thought and imagery, Qassem addressed “the wounded among the mujahideen and mujahidat [the masculine and feminine forms of the Arabic word for fighter], sons and daughters of our dear nation.” 

Qassem praised the terrorists who were injured during the fighting with Israel, and said they represent an integral part of Hezbollah’s struggle. Qassem attempted to comfort the wounded by saying that injury should not considered a failure but an expression of ideological victory and standing firm on the organization’s path. 

“You have stood firm with the mujahideen [fighters] and the people in a legendary steadfastness,” Qassem wrote. 

He also claimed that due to their efforts, “75,000 soldiers of the Israeli enemy” were prevented from entering Lebanon. Because of the Hezbollah terrorist’s “resistance,” Qassem said, “our people returned to the land the moment the ceasefire was declared to protect it with their bodies, faith, and steadfastness.” 

Qassem also said that Hezbollah “disrupted the expansion in the usurpation of the land, and obstructed the new American Middle East.” 

He then quoted the previous leader of Hezbollah, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, saying, "When we are victorious – we are victorious, and when we are killed – we are victorious.” 

The Hezbollah leader even claimed that the wounded themselves continue to “be victorious" even after being injured. 

"The wounded win by recovering and remaining on the ground," Qassem’s letter read. 

At the end of his message, Qassem praised the Iranian leadership, headed by Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who he said is leading the "path of resistance." 

At the end of his letter, Qassem specifically mentioned those wounded in the pager operation int he summer of 2024. 

“Greetings to the wounded, you who have raised our heads high, especially the wounded of the pager,” he wrote, “and greetings to their brothers and families who supported them and stood by their side, and greetings to those who treated them, and supported them, extending a helping hand.” 

“Greetings to our guardian, Imam Khamenei, the commander of this divine path,” Qassem concluded. 

The message from Hezbollah leadership comes as the Lebanese government is putting increasing pressure on Hezbollah to hand over its weapons, and while a number of indicators point to a possible imminent U.S. strike on Iran. 

Israel has also continued to strike reported violations of the Lebanon ceasefire in recent days, despite reports from the Lebanese Army that it has successfully demilitarized the area south of the Litani River. 

On Sunday, the IDF reported three separate airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, hitting Hezbollah terrorists at a known weapons depot in the Bir al-Sansal area of southern Lebanon, as well as Hezbollah infrastructure in the Beqaa Valley area. Later in the day, the military reported the third strike in the Bazouriye area of southern Lebanon. 

“The activity of Hezbollah terrorists at these sites constitutes a violation of the ceasefire understandings between Israel and Lebanon and pose a threat to the State of Israel,” the IDF said in a statement.