Hezbollah Leader Claims Ceasefire Deal with Israel a “Divine Victory”

Hezbollah's leader, Naim Qassem, hailed the recent ceasefire with Israel as a "divine victory" for the Lebanese militant group. In his first address since the truce took effect on November 27, Qassem emphasized that the Iran-backed organization had "won" by preventing Israel from dismantling Hezbollah and weakening the Lebanese "resistance."

This ceasefire has effectively ended 14 months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. Tensions peaked in October when Israel launched a ground offensive in southern Lebanon and conducted extensive aerial bombardments on Hezbollah strongholds.

While Hezbollah celebrates the truce as a victory, the United States and France are overseeing the implementation, including the deployment of Lebanese soldiers and UN peacekeepers to prevent Hezbollah from reentering southern Lebanon. Despite the ceasefire, Israel has warned Hezbollah of potential retaliation if they violate the agreement.

For Iran, the ceasefire presents an opportunity to rebuild Hezbollah, which has suffered significant losses, including the deaths of many top-ranking officials, including the group's former leader, Hassan Nasrallah. Tehran views Hezbollah as a key part of its regional strategy and has promised to support its reconstruction.

The ceasefire follows Israel's successful campaign against Hezbollah, which left the group’s infrastructure decimated and its leadership nearly annihilated. While Hezbollah claims the truce is a victory, the reality is far more complex, with both Hezbollah and Israel suffering significant losses.