Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem said Friday that Israel “understands only the language of force.” He spoke as Hezbollah marked 20 years since the 2006 Lebanon war.
Qassem argued that diplomacy alone had failed to secure the release of Lebanese detainees. Therefore, he defended Hezbollah’s July 12, 2006, capture of two Israeli soldiers.
Al Ahed supplied the televised address, according to Iran’s IRNA news agency, which republished the transcript.
However, neither outlet disclosed the exact broadcast time of the speech. The speech addressed supporters across Lebanon, the Middle Eastern country whose capital is Beirut.
The 2006 conflict began after Hezbollah seized the soldiers near Lebanon’s border with Israel. Israel then launched a major offensive across Lebanon.
Qassem said Israel used the capture as a pretext for war. He also claimed Israel had already prepared a broader campaign. The transcript offered no independent evidence for that claim.
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Fighting continued for 33 days. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts produced United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701. The Security Council adopted the resolution on August 11, 2006. Three days later, the cessation of hostilities took effect.
Resolution 1701 called for Israeli troops to withdraw as Lebanese and UN forces deployed in southern Lebanon. It also sought the disarmament of all armed groups in the country.
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Qassem described the outcome as a Hezbollah victory. He said it deterred Israel until 2023 and changed the regional balance.
He also pledged that Hezbollah would keep seeking the release of prisoners. However, he did not announce any new operation or timetable.
