Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem confirmed, during the Arbaeen ceremony of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) in Baalbek, that the party is facing an Israeli-American aggression targeting the resistance, Iran, Gaza, Yemen and the region, considering that direct negotiations have brought nothing but “shame, humiliation, disappointment and successive concessions” to Lebanon, and that Israel has obtained political gains without achieving results on the ground. Sheikh Qassim called on the political authority to pay attention to sovereignty and strengthen the army, work on Israel’s withdrawal, set a timetable for reconstruction, and address the port and investigation files, demanding an end to “free concessions,” opening the door to dialogue with the resistance, and restoring the internal situation. He also considered that the destruction happening in the south should be an incentive for the authorities to take a clear position on the United States and demand a complete cessation of the aggression. Sheikh Qassem stressed that Iran “triumphed, stood firm, and failed America,” considering that internal unity is necessary, and that the relationship between “Hezbollah” and the “Amal Movement” constitutes an “invincible barrier” against the enemy, stressing that the majority of the Lebanese people support resistance, liberation, national sovereignty, the army, and the resistance. He addressed the people of the south and the suburb, stressing his support for them in light of the losses and damage they suffered, and pledging to work to secure shelter and reconstruction in cooperation with the state and friendly countries. He also called for strengthening cooperation between Lebanon and Syria, considering that the stability of Syria constitutes a support for Lebanon and vice versa, and indicating that there is no impediment to the Hezbollah leadership and the Syrian leadership meeting at the appropriate time. He asserted that "the resistance continues" and that the party will defend its land, stressing the rejection of any project targeting the resistance, its people and Lebanon, and adherence to one unified Lebanon, considering that the stability of Lebanon is linked to the stability of the south, and that "the only option for the enemy is to withdraw and it will withdraw", while emphasizing support for the deployment of the army south of the Litani.