BEIRUT (AP) – Naim Kassem, the leader of Lebanon’s militant Hezbollah group, stated on Wednesday that Israel's recent airstrike on Qatar serves as a cautionary message to Gulf nations rich in oil, indicating that they may not be spared in future conflicts if militant factions in the region face defeat. His remarks follow Israel's strike on the Palestinian Hamas militant group's political leadership based in Qatar, which has been instrumental in mediating the ongoing war in Gaza. Although the airstrikes did not claim the lives of Hamas leaders, they resulted in the deaths of five lower-ranking members and a Qatari security officer.
Kassem expressed solidarity with Qatar, characterizing the strike as an act of aggression, and reiterated Hezbollah's support for the Palestinian resistance. He claimed that the Israeli operation reflects its ongoing efforts to establish a "Greater Israel" that dominates significant parts of the Middle East.
His comments emerged shortly after the Lebanese government approved a military proposal aimed at disarming Hezbollah, which has suffered extensive damage during its 14-month conflict with Israel that concluded with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in November 2023. Kassem asserted that Israel's inability to achieve its expansionist aspirations is primarily due to the existence of militant groups across Lebanon, Gaza, and other Middle Eastern territories. He urged oil-rich Gulf countries to provide financial, political, and social support to these militant factions.
"If the enemy defeats the resistance, and it will not be able to, your turn will be next," Kassem warned, specifically addressing Gulf nations that maintain normalized relations with Israel, such as Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
Turning his focus to Lebanon, Kassem conveyed that the ceasefire, which ended the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, failed to realize its intended objectives, as Israel continues to violate the terms of the truce. Since the ceasefire was enacted, Israel has conducted nearly daily airstrikes on Lebanese territory, primarily targeting Hezbollah members. According to Israel, Hezbollah is currently attempting to rebuild its military capabilities after the war, which resulted in the deaths of much of the group's political and military leadership.
Kassem emphasized the necessity for national unity within Lebanon, asserting that Hezbollah is unwilling to address the issue of disarmament outside of a comprehensive “national security strategy.” Officials within Hezbollah have consistently resisted discussions surrounding the group's disarmament unless Israel withdraws from five hills it occupies in Lebanon and ceases its airstrikes on Lebanese soil.
The Israel-Hezbollah conflict led to the deaths of over 4,000 individuals in Lebanon, including hundreds of civilians, and incurred destruction estimated at $11 billion, according to the World Bank. In Israel, 127 fatalities were reported, among them 80 soldiers. This escalation of violence initiated when Hezbollah commenced rocket fire across the border on October 8, 2023, just one day after a deadly incursion into southern Israel orchestrated by Hamas, which ignited the war in Gaza. Israel’s subsequent retaliatory measures included extensive shelling and airstrikes in Lebanon, culminating in an intense full-blown conflict by late September 2024.
