Hezbollah chief vows high level coordination with army to implement cease-fire

In his first speech since the cease-fire with Israel took effect on Wednesday, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem laid out five key commitments for Lebanon’s recovery, including reconstruction efforts and resolving the country’s enduring political crisis.

In a recorded address on Friday, Qassem emphasized Hezbollah’s role in rebuilding the nation. “We will work with our people on reconstruction, using appropriate mechanisms, and will cooperate with the state to achieve this,” he stated, underscoring the group’s involvement in restoring Lebanon’s damaged infrastructure.

‘High level’ coordination with army over cease-fire

Additionally, he vowed to coordinate at a “high level” with the Lebanese army to implement the terms of a ceasefire with Israel that began two days earlier.

“The coordination between the resistance and the Lebanese army will be at a high level to implement the commitments of the agreement,” Qassem said, adding that “no one is betting on problems or disagreements” with the army.

Qassem also highlighted the urgency of resolving Lebanon’s political stalemate, particularly through the election of a new president.

“We will ensure the presidential election occurs on schedule,” he said, as Lebanon has been without a president since Michel Aoun’s term ended in October 2022.

Twelve parliamentary sessions have failed to elect a successor, with the next session scheduled for Jan. 9, 2025.

Towards united Lebanon

In addition to political and reconstruction efforts, Qassem’s third and fourth priorities focused on national unity.

“We will engage in dialogue with all forces that believe the country belongs to all its citizens, working towards a united Lebanon based on the Taif Agreement,” he declared, referring to the 1989 accord that ended Lebanon’s civil war and restructured the nation’s power-sharing system.

Safeguarding national unity and increasing defense capability

Qassem’s final commitment underscored Lebanon’s defense strategy. “We will safeguard national unity and strengthen our defensive capabilities to deter any attempt by the [Israeli] enemy to undermine Lebanon,” he asserted.

The cease-fire, which brought an end to more than 14 months of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, includes phased Israeli withdrawals south of the Blue Line, while the Lebanese army is to deploy its forces in southern Lebanon within 60 days. Details on the cease-fire’s implementation and oversight remain to be disclosed.

According to Lebanese health authorities, the conflict resulted in over 3,960 deaths, more than 16,500 injuries, and displaced more than 1 million people due to Israeli attacks since October of last year.