Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem said on Tuesday that the direct negotiations between Lebanese authorities and Israel had brought Lebanon “nothing but humiliation, disappointment, and successive concessions,” as Rome hosted the seventh round of talks between the two sides.

Speaking in a televised address during a commemoration marking the 40th day after Imam Hussein’s death in Baalbek, eastern Lebanon, Qassem urged the Lebanese political leadership to “stop free concessions, open dialogue with the resistance, restore internal stability, and reaffirm commitment to national sovereignty.”

He called for practical efforts to achieve what he described as an Israeli withdrawal and the return of Lebanese territory under state control.

Qassem said Israel had gained political advantages but would not achieve its objectives on the ground as long as Hezbollah, its supporters, and others in Lebanon continued to oppose what he described as Israeli plans.

He added that “the only option before Israel is a complete withdrawal,” saying that it would not be able to establish long-term stability in Lebanon.

Regarding the Lebanese army’s role, Qassem said Hezbollah supports the deployment of the Lebanese military south of the Litani River, describing the move as welcome and saying the group would assist with it “to the fullest extent.”

He attributed the reduction in hostilities to a US-Iranian understanding, claiming that Iran had insisted on prioritizing a halt to Israeli military actions and withdrawal as part of the arrangement.

Qassem also said that the continued presence of Hezbollah and its supporters had prevented further escalation, arguing that their position had limited Israel’s military momentum.

No objection to meeting Syrian leadership

In another part of his speech, Qassem said there was “no obstacle” to a public meeting between Hezbollah and the Syrian leadership when both sides consider the timing appropriate.

He emphasized the importance of maintaining “brotherly, positive, and cooperative relations” between Lebanon and Syria, adding that Hezbollah hoped Syria would achieve stability, justice, and cooperation among its various communities.

Qassem also expressed hope that Syria would remain united and that Israeli forces would withdraw from occupied Syrian territories. He called for the return of Syrian refugees living in Lebanon and other areas to their country “with dignity and security.”

He said a stable Syria would support Lebanon, and a stable Lebanon would support Syria.

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa previously said in an interview in June that Damascus had no intention of intervening militarily in Lebanon, while expressing openness to dialogue with Hezbollah if it served the interests of both Lebanon and Syria.

Internal unity and negotiations with Israel

Qassem also stressed the importance of internal unity in Lebanon, saying that cooperation between Hezbollah and the Amal Movement had formed a barrier against external pressures.

He warned that Hezbollah would confront those who, according to him, participate in what he called an Israeli project and take steps against the group, its supporters, or Lebanon’s interests.

His remarks came as Lebanon and Israel held the seventh round of direct negotiations under US mediation in Rome.

Lebanon hopes the talks will lead to agreement on additional pilot areas, following a previous round that resulted in identifying three locations for initial arrangements: Frun, Srifa, and Zawtar al-Gharbiyya.

The negotiations remain a source of domestic disagreement in Lebanon, with Hezbollah and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri opposing the direct talks, while President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam support negotiations as a means to end the conflict.