Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Naim Qassem has made a strong appeal to Saudi Arabia, calling on the kingdom to restore diplomatic and strategic ties with the Lebanese armed group. He urged Riyadh to work alongside Hezbollah to form a united front against Israel, highlighting the need for regional cooperation amid increasing tensions. Israel stepped up its air and ground strikes in southern Lebanon, prompting Hezbollah to make the appeal and raising concerns about the security situation along the border.
Hezbollah Leader Seeks Saudi Reconciliation
Qassem presented a detailed three-point approach for Saudi Arabia to consider. He suggested that Saudi Arabia initiate dialogue to resolve outstanding disputes, recognize Israel as the common adversary, and put past disagreements with Hezbollah on hold. According to Qassem, building mutual understanding and cooperation could help prevent further escalation in the region and strengthen resistance against external threats.
He further clarified that Hezbollah’s military capabilities are strictly directed at Israel. “Not Lebanon, not Saudi Arabia, and not any other place or party in the world,” he said, underlining that Hezbollah does not target neighboring countries or allies. This statement came amid concerns that regional tensions could intensify, with Qassem warning that pressuring Hezbollah could inadvertently benefit Israel.
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He warned that pressuring Hezbollah would inadvertently aid Israel. Qassem stated that if the resistance was weakened, the “turn will come for the other states.” The long-standing tension between Saudi Arabia and Hezbollah is part of a wider rivalry between Riyadh and Tehran, the main backer of Hezbollah. In 2016, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), led by Saudi Arabia, labeled Hezbollah a “terrorist” organization due to its support for Syria’s Bashar al-Assad and the Houthi movement in Yemen.
Escalating Israeli Strikes in Southern Lebanon
The recent flare-up in violence comes as Israel intensified its military campaign in southern Lebanon. Lebanon’s Ministry of Health reported that two people were killed and 11 others injured in airstrikes on Friday. One strike hit a car near a public hospital in Tebnin, while another targeted a vehicle in Ansar.
Israel confirmed the killing of Hezbollah commander Ammar Hayel Qutaybani and a member of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan force in Tebnin. The Israeli military also said it struck a vessel used by Hezbollah to gather intelligence in Naqura. These attacks followed a day of strikes on several southern towns, accompanied by warnings for residents to evacuate.
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Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the raids, calling them “intimidation and aggressions” that violate last year’s ceasefire and the international monitoring mechanism linked to it. Despite the ceasefire, which called for Hezbollah to disarm and withdraw north of the Litani River, Israel continues to occupy at least five positions in southern Lebanon, according to Al Jazeera.
Hezbollah Stands Firm Against Israel
In his statement, Qassem described Israel as a colonial entity historically backed by Britain and now by the United States. He accused Israel of committing widespread atrocities and claimed it had reached “the height of barbarity” in its operations. He said that previous strategies, including “soft war, sanctions, and the Abraham Accords,” failed to give the US and Israel a decisive advantage, prompting what he described as a shift toward “genocide” as a solution.
Qassem pointed to Israel’s September 9 strike on Qatar as a turning point in the regional conflict. He questioned whether people could trust any proposal from the United States—or from others acting in its interest. The Secretary-General emphasized that Hezbollah is open to negotiations but only “from a position of strength,” reaffirming the group’s commitment to resist Israeli occupation and liberate land.
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He made these remarks just two days after Saudi Arabia signed a mutual defense pact with nuclear-armed Pakistan, reportedly in response to the Israeli attack on Qatar. Qassem’s appeal to Riyadh signals an effort to build alliances against Israel while reinforcing Hezbollah’s stance as a key regional resistance force.
Hezbollah’s ongoing tension with Israel, coupled with its fraught relationship with Saudi Arabia, continues to shape the security and political landscape in Lebanon and the wider Middle East. The recent strikes and statements underscore the fragile situation along the Israel-Lebanon border, with both military action and political messaging playing central roles.