Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem spoke via videoconference on Friday afternoon at a memorial service held by Hezbollah in honor of Martyred Senior Commander Haitham al-Tabtabai in Dahiyeh, a southern suburb of Beirut.
“Martyr al-Tabtabai (Sayed Abu Ali) was an exemplary figure in planning, courage and wisdom,” Qassem said, adding, “Martyr Said Abu Ali had a lasting impact in times of crisis. He was distinguished by a personality that blended faith, discipline, piety and strategic vision.”
“Abu Ali led the battle with ‘tremendous power’ with extraordinary professionalism and strategic military skill,” the Hezbollah leader further stated.
“Abu Ali was a true son who fought on the battlefields on various fronts in Lebanon, Syria and Yemen,” he also said, according to the Al Manar TV EN website.
“The purpose of the assassination was not and will not be achieved. We are determined to continue our path of resistance,” he further asserted.
“We must address our mistakes, close the gaps and learn the lessons that emerge from them,” Qasem continued.
He added: “The five martyrs[of the Dahieh attack]have come together to prepare for the next mission. We consider them a source of great pride.”
“This is a blatant invasion and a heinous crime. We have the right to respond and we will decide the timing,” Qassem added.
He said anyone calling for Hezbollah to disarm was in Israel’s interests, adding that the ceasefire was a victory for the resistance because it thwarted the enemy’s objectives.
“The November 2024 ceasefire is a victory for the resistance, the people and Lebanon, because we prevented the enemy from achieving its goal of eliminating the resistance,” he later stressed.
Hezbollah continued: “Israel’s attack is not just an invasion of the resistance, but an invasion of Lebanon as a whole.”
“Deterring the enemy includes disengagement and protection, confrontation, and preventing enemy forces from establishing a presence on our soil,” Qassem stressed.
“If they threaten us and mobilize the whole world, they will only despair,” Qassem said of threats by Israel’s enemies.
MNA