Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem released a pointed message on Thursday, condemning the Washington declaration on Lebanon as a tool of subjugation, rejecting ongoing direct negotiations, and reaffirming the Resistance’s commitment to fighting until full zionist withdrawal.
Sheikh Qassem asserted that the Washington declaration outlines “the fundamental principles through which the United States and the zionist entity seek Lebanon’s submission to the project of ‘Greater Israel.'” He stressed that the declaration “is intended to sow discord among the Lebanese and to allow ‘Israel’ to achieve through politics what it failed to achieve through war.”
He affirmed that the declaration is “aimed at undermining Lebanon, destabilizing the country, and sowing discord among the Lebanese people,” calling it “a roadmap for the extermination of a segment of the Lebanese people and the subjugation of the rest.”
Sheikh Qassem underscored that making the disarmament of the Resistance “the primary objective and starting point of any agreement would mean stripping Lebanon of its strength and posing an existential threat that could lead to the destruction of its resistant people.”
He affirmed that the Resistance’s existence is not up for negotiation, rejecting any linkage between the existence of the Resistance and the cessation of aggression or the withdrawal of “Israel,” stressing that the two tracks cannot be conflated.
Direct negotiations are ‘humiliating’
Sheikh Qassem said the outcome of the direct negotiations is “wholly and categorically rejected by broad segments of the Lebanese people,” characterising the process as “futile, humiliating, and disgraceful.”
He called on Lebanese officials to “put an end to this farce and humiliation known as direct negotiations,” urging them to “be stronger by rallying all your people around the choice of a sovereign state, to which the enemies will inevitably submit.”
He warned that the so-called “security track,” premised on an illusory ceasefire that would require Hezbollah to stop firing and resistance fighters to vacate the southern front while the aggression continues and military pressure mounts, “amounts to surrender, defeat, and the fulfillment of the enemy’s objectives,” likening it to “Satan’s dream of entering Paradise.”
Ceasefire conditions
Sheikh Qassem highlighted that the Resistance is “concerned only with ending the comprehensive aggression through a ceasefire and the withdrawal of ‘Israel.'”
He stressed that the ceasefire “must be comprehensive,” with “no distinction between South Lebanon and the rest of the country,” and that “the enemy cannot be granted freedom to kill in Lebanon.”
He outlined the core conditions as the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from Lebanese territory, the deployment of the Lebanese Army south of the Litani River, and the liberation of prisoners, affirming that “no one has the right to interfere in Lebanon’s internal affairs or in how the Lebanese organize their political, economic, and social life.”
Resistance will continue until occupation ends
Sheikh Qassem affirmed that “as long as the occupation remains, the Resistance will continue.”
He stressed that “we have given no commitment to anyone not to resist aggression or respond to it,” adding that as long as the aggression continues, the Resistance will “confront it with all the strength at our disposal.”
He added that “as long as our villages remain unsafe, are being bombed and destroyed, and our people are being killed, the settlements will not be safe,” vowing that they “will witness our might and our resolve.”
He warned that “the murderers of prophets will not find stability on our land,” and that the Resistance “will fight the invaders until we drive them from our land and bring an end to their aggression.”
National unity, government accountability
Sheikh Qassem stressed that the Resistance remains committed to “national unity in the face of aggression,” calling it “a source of strength for all of us.”
He held the Lebanese authorities responsible for fulfilling their duty to address “the internal Lebanese divisions caused by their political choices,” and called on them to initiate “measures and dialogue that lead to unifying the Lebanese in confronting the Israeli aggression against our country.”
He explained that “the priority is for the people of the country to reach an understanding in confronting the aggression,” with internal issues to be addressed only afterward, under the framework of the Constitution, the Taif Agreement, and coexistence.”
Gratitude to Iran, tribute to Imam Khomeini
Sheikh Qassem delivered the speech as a message on the anniversary of Imam Khomeini’s passing, also addressing the current political situation. He expressed gratitude to Iran for its efforts to secure a comprehensive halt to aggression and a ceasefire in Lebanon as part of the broader cessation of aggression against Iran itself.
He highlighted that “despite all the difficulties faced by the Iranian Revolution, Iran has advanced on all fronts and has supported liberation movements.”
He affirmed that the Revolution “emerged from an Islamic foundation rooted in the principles of resisting oppression and occupation, and declared itself to be neither Eastern nor Western.”
He stressed that “the West and the United States do not accept Iran as a model of integrity and justice,” but rather want it “to be subordinate to their interests and domination.”
Sheikh Qassem noted that the Resistance in Lebanon “drew inspiration from the approach and thought of Imam Khomeini,” while affirming that Hezbollah “fights for our land and our people.”
Hezbollah destroys 7 tanks in actions
The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon, Hezbollah, carried out a sustained campaign of operations on Wednesday evening and Thursday against Israeli occupation forces in southern Lebanon, in defense of Lebanon and its people and in response to the Israeli occupation’s ongoing violations of the ceasefire agreement and its continued aggression on Lebanese villages and civilians.
As was the case in the past couple of days, the operations were concentrated around al-Shaqif Fortress and the town of Yohmor al-Shaqif, where Israeli occupation forces have attempted to establish a presence in recent days but have failed to do so due to relentless Resistance fire.
Despite an Israeli military photo op at the historic fortress, the Resistance has continued to strike occupation vehicles, troops, and command positions in the area daily, destroying two Merkava tanks on Wednesday and four so far on Thursday.
Wednesday’s operations
The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon released statements detailing the following operations on Wednesday, June 3:
On Wednesday, fighters engaged Israeli Hermes 450 “Zik” surveillance drones on three separate occasions, over the city of Nabatieh, over Wadi al-Hujeir, and in the western sector of southern Lebanon, forcing each to leave the area.
Later that evening, at 8:00 pm and 9:00 pm, fighters targeted gatherings of IOF vehicles and troops on the southeastern outskirts of Yohmor al-Shaqif and in the town of Rsheif with two swarms of one-way attack drones.
At 10:30 pm, fighters targeted another gathering of IOF vehicles and troops on the southern outskirts of Yohmor al-Shaqif with a rocket salvo.
Sustained overnight operations in Qantara
Resistance fighters struck the town of Qantara three times overnight and in the early morning hours on Thursday, June 5:
At 12:15 am, fighters targeted a gathering of IOF vehicles and troops in Qantara with a rocket salvo.
At 2:45 am, a second strike hit a gathering in the same town with a swarm of one-way attack drones.
A third strike followed at 8:00 am, when fighters hit another gathering of occupation vehicles and troops in Qantara with two rocket salvos.
Ongoing operations in Yohmor al-Shaqif
Resistance fighters launched a sustained series of strikes on Israeli occupation forces in the Yohmor al-Shaqif area and near al-Shaqif Fortress shortly after midnight on Thursday, June 4:
At 12:20 am, fighters targeted an Israeli occupation army command position near al-Shaqif Fortress with two one-way attack drones.
At 4:00 pm, fighters destroyed two Merkava tanks near the fortress with appropriate weapons.
At 4:15 pm, fighters hit a gathering of occupation troops near the fortress with artillery shells.
At 4:50 pm, fighters struck a newly established IOF logistics support center on the outskirts of Yohmor al-Shaqif with two advanced drones.
At 5:15 pm, fighters destroyed a third Merkava tank near the fortress with a guided missile.
At 6:20 pm, fighters targeted a gathering of occupation troops near the fortress with heavy rockets.
At 7:30 pm, fighters targeted another two Merkava tanks in the vicinity of al-Shaqif Fortress with two Ababil attack drones, scoring confirmed hits.
At 8:30 pm, fighters destroyed a sixth Merkava tank near the fortress with a guided missile.
Between 4:30 pm and 11:00 pm, fighters carried out three separate rounds of artillery fire and three waves of heavy rocket salvos targeting occupation troop gatherings near the fortress.
At 11:40 pm, fighters destroyed a seventh Merkava tank near the fortress with a guided missile.
At 11:50 pm on Thursday, fighters targeted a gathering of IOFvehicles and troops in the vicinity of al-Shaqif Fortress with a swarm of one-way attack drones.
Operations in other areas
At 2:00 pm, fighters engaged an Israeli Hermes 450 “Zik” surveillance drone over the towns of Kfar Melki and Jbaa, forcing it to leave the area.
At 4:00 pm, and along the southern Lebanese border, Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of IOF vehicles and troops at the newly established Nemer al-Jamal outpost with two one-way attack drones.
At 6:45 pm on Thursday, fighters targeted a newly established Israeli occupation army position on Oweida Hill in the town of Odaisseh with a swarm of one-way attack drones.
At 9:00 pm, fighters targeted an Israeli force moving through the city of Khiam with a rocket salvo fired in two waves.
At 10:10 pm, fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli occupation vehicles and troops in the town of Rsheif with a rocket salvo.
Footage released
The Resistance’s Military Media unit released footage from three recent operations.
The first, from May 31, shows strikes on gatherings of Israeli occupation vehicles and troops in the towns of Qantara and Taybeh and near al-Shaqif Fortress, carried out with rocket salvos.
The second, from May 30, shows an Ababil one-way attack drone targeting Israeli occupation army technical equipment in the town of Rsheif.
The third, from May 26, shows an Ababil drone striking an Israeli occupation army Humvee near the riverbed outside the town of Zawtar al-Sharqiyah.
Thermal footage from June 2 shows an Ababil drone striking a Merkava tank on the southern outskirts of Zawtar al-Sharqiyah.
Sirens sound, drone explodes near Shlomi
Air raid sirens sounded across northern occupied Palestine on Thursday. Early morning alerts were activated in Arab al-Aramshe in western al-Jalil and Kfar Yuval in upper al-Jalil over fears of drone infiltration.
Later in the afternoon, sirens sounded across Hanita, Shlomi, Betzet, Ya’ara, Metzuba, and Admit in the western al-Jalil. Israeli media reported that the air force was attempting to intercept hostile aircraft in the area, and that a drone subsequently exploded near Shlomi.
Israeli media further noted that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the security minister had been present in Shlomi shortly before the Resistance opened fire. Sirens later sounded in Metula in al-Jalil Panhandle and in Kiryat Shmona and the surrounding area.
IOF casualties
An Israeli army captain from the 75th Battalion of the 7th Armored Brigade was killed in southern Lebanon on Thursday after an anti-tank missile struck a tank belonging to a Golani Brigade combat team. Israeli Army Radio reported the strike occurred at approximately 4:00 pm. Other occupation soldiers were wounded in southern Lebanon, with at least one person reported in critical condition.
Israeli media subsequently reported a further serious security incident in southern Lebanon.
The Israeli military also announced that the total number of soldiers wounded since the resumption of fighting in early March has risen to 1,243, including 72 in serious condition and 140 in moderate condition.
Sixty-three officers and soldiers were wounded over the past four days alone, while twenty-seven officers and soldiers have been killed since fighting resumed.
What Israeli media is saying
Israeli Army Radio reported that Hezbollah attacks Israeli forces near al-Shaqif Fortress every day using approximately 15 explosive-laden drones.
The broadcaster also revealed that minutes after senior Golani Brigade officers were present near the fortress, the Resistance launched a one-way attack drone toward a nearby military force, a detail that follows an earlier report by Channel 14 that an FPV drone struck the vehicle of the Northern Command chief during a patrol in southern Lebanon last May, in what the IOF considered an assassination attempt.
Israeli Channel 14 also reported on Thursday that a heated dispute broke out during a meeting between the heads of northern local authorities and the General Staff Forum. Northern Command chief Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo was quoted by attendees as saying the occupation cannot eliminate Hezbollah, only inflict severe blows and weaken it, remarks that drew a furious response from several local council heads.
The head of the Metula Local Council said the state had abandoned residents and returned them to a reality of constant alerts.
IRGC declares no calm without zionist withdrawal from Lebanon
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued on Thursday a statement to comment the recent events in Lebanon, indicating that this land continues to be subjected to brutal attacks by the usurping Zionist entity.
“The positions of rejection and condemnation issued by international institutions, states, and peoples have had no impact on the behavior of the bloodthirsty rulers of Tel Aviv. Moreover, the interventions of the United States, which claims to seek the establishment of peace, have resulted only in more crimes and genocide.”
“Despite its equipment and capabilities, the weak and cowardly Zionist army compensates for its failures on the battlefronts by killing civilians and destroying homes, hospitals, and schools. This racist regime, despite the unlimited support it receives from the United States and European countries, has throughout its history been unable to win the hearts of the inhabitants of even a single village in the occupied territories, and it has been known only for imposing control over destroyed lands. We continue to witness daily the demolition of the homes of oppressed Palestinians and Lebanese at the hands of this aggressor regime.”
The Lebanese people will not allow the usurping entity to achieve through an imposed agreement—supported by the United States, which the statement describes as “child-killer”—what it failed to achieve in war, the statement added.
“Our basic condition for accepting a ceasefire in the regional war was a ceasefire on all fronts, including Lebanon. The enemy must immediately stop its attacks on the Lebanese people, and quickly withdraw from the occupied Lebanese territories to beyond the international borders, and recognize Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
“The Lebanese people are a source of pride for the Islamic nation and a symbol of the honor of the peoples of the region. We will stand by them with all the strength we possess, and no calm will be achieved in the region unless there is a withdrawal from the occupied Lebanese territories,” the statement affirmed.