In his first official address since being appointed as Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Naim Qassem expressed gratitude to the party’s leadership for entrusting him with what he described as a "heavy burden" of leadership.

In a televised speech on Wednesday, Qassem thanked the leadership for their confidence in him, requesting "divine support" in fulfilling his duty to serve Hezbollah's cause.

Qassem affirmed Hezbollah’s commitment to its established goals, vowing that his leadership would continue along the path set by the group's slain leader Hassan Nasrallah. 

“We have many sacrifices ahead of us, but we are confident that victory will be ours,” he stated, adding that supporting Gaza in recent conflicts was an essential humanitarian and religious duty, one that aligns with the party’s broader mission.

Referring to Israel, Qassem remarked that the state “does not need an excuse to attack Lebanon” and characterized Hezbollah’s actions as “preemptive defense.” He described a large-scale, coordinated campaign against Hezbollah and its allies as a "global Israeli-American-European war," asserting that this alliance seeks to weaken the resistance and destabilize the region.

“We thank God that we are part of the front supporting our people, dismantling some of Israel’s planned strategies,” Qassem said. “Through resistance, we are capable of disrupting Israel’s project,” he added, emphasizing Hezbollah’s resolve to oppose any encroachment on Lebanon’s sovereignty.

Qassem warned Israel it would pay a heavy price if its forces remain in Lebanon, stressing his group was ready to keep fighting for "days, weeks and months".

"Get out of our land to reduce your losses. If you stay, you will pay more than you have ever paid in your life," Qassem said.

Qassem made it clear that Hezbollah’s operations are not carried out on behalf of Iran or any external power, but solely to protect Lebanon.

“In Lebanon, we do not fight on behalf of Iran but to defend and liberate our land,” he said. He acknowledged Iran’s support for Hezbollah but emphasized that Tehran expects nothing in return.

Reflecting on the challenges of the past year, Qassem referenced a significant disruption involving communication devices, which reportedly affected thousands of Lebanese, including both fighters and civilians. He noted that, despite the assassination of Nasrallah and other senior leaders, Hezbollah had managed to reorganize within days, highlighting the group’s resilience and adaptability in the face of substantial setbacks.

“Despite the pain of our losses, Hezbollah has risen again,” Qassem stated, affirming that the group remains committed to its mission.

However, Qassem said that Hezbollah could agree to a truce under certain terms if Israel presented an offer.

"If the Israelis decide that they want to stop the aggression, we say we accept, but under the conditions that we see as appropriate and suitable," he said.

He reiterated that Hezbollah would not "beg for a ceasefire", adding that the group has not yet received a credible proposition.