Hezbollah chief vows continued ‘resistance’, rejects ‘free concessions’

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem has vowed that the group’s “resistance continues as long as there is breath,” rejecting what he called “free concessions” to Israel amid escalating cross-border tensions.

In a statement released on Friday, Qassem said, “The Israeli enemy was defeated on the ground and was unable to carry out a ground invasion.”

He further claimed, “The enemy, in all its aggression, has not succeeded in preventing the missiles.”

Reaffirming Hezbollah’s position on ongoing Israeli strikes, he said the group “will not accept a return to the previous situation” and urged countries not to make “free concessions” in favour of Israel,reports Al Jazeera.

Meanwhile, violence continued in southern Lebanon as Israeli air strikes hit several areas.

Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported that an Israeli strike injured a Lebanese couple as they were leaving the border village of Mari.

The Red Cross evacuated the injured to a nearby hospital.

Over the past hour, Israeli strikes reportedly targeted multiple locations in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley, including At-Tiri, Beit Yahoun, Bint Jbeil, al-Ansar and Sohmori.

Separately, Hezbollah said its fighters targeted the Israeli naval base in the Port of Ashdod using “advanced” missiles, marking another escalation in the ongoing cross-border hostilities.