Hezbollah Declines Ceasefire Terms Allowing Israeli Military Autonomy in Lebanon

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem on Sunday rejected any ceasefire proposal that would permit Israel “free rein” to conduct operations within Lebanon, according to reports from Anadolu.

“They have suggested a ceasefire where Hezbollah ceases fire while Israel remains free to act, strike, and advance at will. We view this simply as a continuation of aggression, and we will not accept it,” Qassem stated during a televised address.

“A ceasefire cannot include freedom of movement for Israel,” he emphasized.

The Hezbollah leader defined a legitimate ceasefire as a “complete cessation of aggression by air, land, and sea, and a total halt to the destruction.”

“The ongoing presence of the Israeli military on Lebanese soil is unacceptable. There are no safe zones. Sovereignty belongs to our national army, which is the sole entity responsible for preserving our territory and with whom we cooperate,” Qassem added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Sunday that the Israeli military will not withdraw from occupied territories in southern Lebanon, despite international understandings regarding Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

His remarks follow significant Israeli military escalations on Friday and Saturday, involving over 200 strikes across southern and eastern Lebanon targeting alleged Hezbollah sites. Local reports indicate that many of these strikes impacted residential areas and civilian infrastructure.

Data from Lebanon’s Health Ministry indicates that the strikes on Friday and Saturday resulted in 105 fatalities and more than 150 injuries.

Since March 2, official Lebanese figures report that Israeli attacks have resulted in over 4,100 deaths and more than 12,000 injuries.

Israel maintains a military presence in various areas of southern Lebanon, including long-standing occupied zones and territories seized during the 2023–2024 conflict.

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