fazTimes media: As thousands of Shiite believers gathered in the southern parts of Beirut to honor Ashoura, a day of deep sadness and important history, Hezbollah’s Deputy Secretary General Naim Kassem spoke out strongly. His message was shown on a video during the ceremony, and he clearly said that Hezbollah will not stop fighting until Israel completely leaves Lebanese land and stops its current airstrikes.

These comments come as tensions are rising again in southern Lebanon, even though a ceasefire, supported by the U.S., has stopped the big fighting between Hezbollah and Israel from last year. Although large battles have stopped, Israeli airstrikes are still happening, and Hezbollah continues to be ready for war, saying that Israel is still occupying and attacking Lebanese land.

Sheikh Abbas, a local religious leader at the Dahiyeh gathering, said, “This day reminds us that we must fight against unfairness, even if it means giving up our lives.” He added, “This isn’t just a religious event. It’s about showing our ongoing struggle.” Kassem also talked about this in a recorded speech. He said, “We won’t support making peace with the occupation in Lebanon and the area. We won’t agree to accepting normal relations with Israel.”

Ongoing Tensions Despite Ceasefire

The latest war between Israel and Hezbollah ended in November 2024, causing a lot of damage. More than 4,000 people died, thousands were hurt, and many places in southern Lebanon and parts of Beirut were destroyed. Since the ceasefire began, the Lebanese Health Ministry said 250 civilians and fighters have been killed in Israeli airstrikes.

Israel says these strikes are meant to stop Hezbollah by hitting their supply lines, weapons, and observation points. However, some people say the airstrikes break Lebanon’s rules and could start another war. BBC News reports that the Israeli government still sees Hezbollah as a danger to northern Israel. They say Hezbollah has launched rockets and is trying to rebuild near the border.

A Shift in Hezbollah’s Leadership

Nasrallah had been leading the group for more than 30 years and was a key person in making important decisions about the group’s politics and military actions. After his death, Naim Kassem became the acting leader and is now the main person representing Hezbollah.

His speech during the Ashoura event showed that even though there was a change in leadership, Hezbollah’s main goals and position have not changed. Kassem said, “How can you expect us not to stand up when the Israeli enemy keeps attacking, keeps taking over our land, and keeps killing people in our areas?”

He also answered people who question why Hezbollah still keeps its missile weapons, saying, How can we fight back against Israel if it attacks us without having these weapons? Domestic and international pressure is growing. Even though Hezbollah is still determined to keep up its armed fight, more people inside Lebanon and around the world are pushing for them to stop or at least reduce their military actions.

Globally, UN Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Lebanon and Israel, asked Hezbollah to give up its weapons and let the Lebanese Armed Forces take control of military activities in the south. But this hasn’t been fully carried out, and UN peacekeepers in the area don’t have full authority.

U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, after the November ceasefire, told Hezbollah to “choose peace and political integration.”

A Divided Lebanese Public

Hezbollah’s support in Lebanon has gone up and down. Many Shia people in Lebanon see the group as a symbol of fighting back against Israeli attacks and protecting their country. However, others think its strong military is like a separate government that weakens Lebanon’s independence and its democracy.

Rania Khalil, a teacher in Tyre, said, “We don’t want war. We just want schools to open again, food prices to go down, and our kids to grow up in peace. But every few years, we end up in battles we didn’t choose.” Hadi Darwish, a university student from Beirut’s southern areas, told FazTimes that without Hezbollah, they would be under occupation.

He said Israel only respects strong forces. If Hezbollah is disarmed, it means giving up. A Road Ahead, Still Uncertain. As Lebanon keeps dealing with a serious economic problem, the local currency is dropping to very low levels, and basic services are not working well.

Because of this, more people are finding it hard to support the ongoing conflict, both in terms of loss of life and financial damage.

Conclusion

The path to peace in southern Lebanon is still far, hard, and connected to old problems like history, identity, and the fight for freedom. Until there’s a new agreement that makes everyone feel safe and gives people a say in their country’s future, Hezbollah’s weapons and the discussion about them are probably going to stay as they are.

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