Hezbollah's deputy leader Naim Kassem declared Israel has reached a military impasse in Lebanon and reiterated the group's refusal to negotiate directly with Israel.
The full text of Sheikh Naim Qassim's statement has been released, in which he declares the Israeli effort to eliminate Hezbollah a failure, references the ongoing 'Battle of the Devouring Storm,' and explicitly rejects direct negotiations with Israel.
Qassem has reiterated the group's refusal to disarm, reinforcing a core policy position.
Qassem's statement now includes a specific claim of an Israeli defeat in the 'Al-Uqab Al-'Aqib' operation on March 20, 2026, and more explicitly links Hezbollah's arms to resisting a perceived Israeli plan for occupation.
Naim Kassem's statement specifically declared Israel has reached an impasse in Lebanon and reiterated Hezbollah's refusal to hold direct negotiations with Israel.
