Hezbollah leader Qassem threatens Israel, demands Lebanese gov’t ensure complete Israeli withdrawal by Feb 18

With the deadline for the final withdrawal of Israeli troops only two days away, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem on Sunday demanded that the Lebanese government ensure the IDF will pull its forces completely out of southern Lebanon.

In a televised speech on the occasion of the terror group’s “Annual Commemoration of the Martyred Commanders,” Qassem responded to claims made by Lebanon’s parliament speaker Nabih Berri, who said the U.S. would approve the IDF to “remain in five strategic points” along the border.

“The Lebanese state’s sole and fundamental responsibility at this time is to invest all efforts to make Israel withdraw on February 18 and not allow it to remain in certain positions, or in one position,” Qassem said.

The cleric, who replaced Sec.-Gen. Hassan Nasrallah after the terror group’s long-time leader and his designated successor were eliminated by Israel last year, warned that if Israel remained in Lebanon, it would be considered an occupier.

“Everyone knows how to treat an occupier,” he added.

Israel argues that Hezbollah continues attempts to move and salvage weapons in southern Lebanon while trying to restore its capabilities by resuming its smuggling from outside the country.

On Saturday, the IDF eliminated a commander in Hezbollah’s drone array in southern Lebanon. The military said he was struck “after repeatedly violating the terms of the arrangement between Israel and Lebanon over the past few weeks, including his involvement” in launching drones toward Israel.

Lebanese media confirmed that the commander and another person were killed in the strike.

On Sunday, Lebanese media reported three Israeli strikes during Qassem’s speech.

The IDF later said it struck after identifying activity in several “military sites containing rocket launchers and weapons in Lebanese territory,”

“The activity of terrorist operatives at these sites constitutes a violation of the agreements between Israel and Lebanon,” the IDF stated.

In recent days, Lebanon reportedly canceled landing permits for Iranian planes after Israel warned they were carrying funds meant for Hezbollah and threatened to attack them.

"The premiership received a call informing it that Israel would strike Beirut airport's runway if the Iranian plane landed," Qassem said, calling on the government to "reconsider its stance on banning Iranian flights and to express a sovereign position."

In his speech, Qassem also responded to U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza, calling it “very dangerous.”

“This is a process of political extermination, following the failure of Benjamin Netanyahu and America to eliminate the resistance,” he said.

“The U.S. ‘plan’ is a danger to all, especially Arab and Muslim countries. These countries must reject any displacement of Palestinians, and as Hezbollah, we are ready to contribute if Arab countries have an alternative plan to reject the displacement of Palestinians.”

Meanwhile, the IDF continued to hold its positions in the eastern sector of southern Lebanon.

On Sunday, Lebanese media reported that Israeli troops killed a woman and detained several others in the town of Houla after entering the area, despite standing orders from both the Lebanese and Israeli armies to avoid regions still under IDF control.