Beirut, April 27, (dpa/GNA) – Hezbollah Secretary General, Naim Qassem, said on Monday that the Iran-backed militia would not engage in direct negotiations with Israel, and would continue what it described as “defensive resistance” against ongoing attacks.
In a lengthy written statement, Qassem said Israel, backed by the United States, had failed to defeat Hezbollah.
He said Israeli forces had been met with strong resistance and had reached a “dead end,” warning the group would continue to respond to attacks and would not disarm, describing its weapons as essential for defence against Israeli aggression.
He added that Hezbollah would keep fighting until all occupied Lebanese territory is regained.
Qassem’s comments came as Israel’s military said, it carried out fresh strikes on Hezbollah on Monday, despite a ceasefire formally remaining in place.
The Israeli military said it struck infrastructure in southern Lebanon and in the eastern Bekaa Valley — an area it had not targeted since the truce took effect. Lebanese security sources reported heavy airstrikes on locations considered Hezbollah strongholds, with no immediate reports of casualties.
More than 2,500 people have been killed in Lebanon in the latest round of hostilities since early March, according to the health ministry in Beirut. More than 7,800 have been wounded, it said.
Israeli media said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Israel Katz and senior security officials met earlier to discuss alleged Hezbollah violations of the ceasefire. Israel also reported a Hezbollah drone strike on its northern region earlier on Monday, triggering air raid sirens.
A ceasefire in the conflict was announced in mid-April by US President Donald Trump following talks with Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. Trump on Thursday announced a three-week extension of the truce to buy time for diplomacy.
Under the terms of the ceasefire, Israel may act against imminent or ongoing threats but is expected to avoid broader offensive operations inside Lebanon. However, Netanyahu has recently instructed the military to intensify strikes on Hezbollah targets.
Despite the truce, violence has persisted. On Sunday, Lebanon’s health ministry said Israeli strikes on the south killed 14 people, including two children, and wounded 37 others.
Qassem outlined conditions for any settlement, including a full halt to hostilities across land, sea and air, Israel’s withdrawal from occupied territory, prisoner releases, the return of displaced residents and reconstruction.
Hezbollah was not directly involved in the US-mediated ceasefire talks, but had indicated it would adhere to the truce, provided Israel also suspended its attacks. The Lebanese government has no direct control over the group, though a key role in negotiations is being played by Parliament Speaker and Hezbollah ally Nabih Berri.
Meanwhile, President Aoun dismissed accusations by Hezbollah of treason over negotiations with Israel, saying those who take Lebanon into wars serving foreign interests are the ones committing “treason.” He defended the government’s decision to pursue talks, urging critics to wait for the outcome.
Aoun stressed that a ceasefire remains a prerequisite for any political process, adding that Lebanese officials had conveyed this position to the United States.
Aoun said his objective is to lead Lebanon out of the cycle of conflict and toward a framework similar to the 1949 Armistice Agreement, questioning whether such arrangements should be seen as concessions.
Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah flared up again after Hezbollah launched attacks at the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran on February 28. The Israeli military responded by ramping up strikes on Lebanon and occupying parts of southern Lebanon near the border.
GNA