'We said repeatedly our patience has limits': Hezbollah leader

Hezbollah's secretary-general says the Lebanese resistance movement’s recent military response followed more than a year of restraint, reminding how the group had warned repeatedly about the limits to its capacity for self-restraint in the face of Israeli aggression.

"For a year and three months, the Israeli and American enemy has continued its aggression. We adhered to the ceasefire agreement of November 27, 2024, alongside the Lebanese state, but Israel did not adhere to a single clause," Sheikh Naim Qassem said during an address on Wednesday.

The day saw the Israeli regime and the movement conclude the agreement, with Tel Aviv pledging to cease its intensified deadly escalation towards Lebanon that had cost thousands of lives.

Sheikh Qassem noted that, throughout the timespan that has passed since conclusion of the deal, the regime has claimed the lives of around 500 people throughout Lebanon.

He also noted that the period has featured more than 10,000 Israeli land, sea, and air violations against the Lebanese soil.

The resistance leader stated that the movement even exercised restraint in order to allow diplomatic efforts to prompt the regime to end the violations.

"We did not respond to repeated Israeli attacks so as not to be accused of obstructing diplomatic efforts, and because responsibility lies with the state," he said, adding, "But it achieved nothing over fifteen months."

"We said repeatedly that patience has limits."

The movement finally chose to fight back "to dispel any illusion that silence would bring calm."

The speech followed statements a day earlier detailing missile and drone operations against Israeli military sites.

Hezbollah strikes Israeli surveillance, military base in Golan Heights, occupied lands

Hezbollah has conducted two separate missile operations against strategic Israeli military installations.

On Tuesday, Hezbollah said it had struck the Meron air surveillance and operations management base in the occupied territories, targeting one of the radars and a command building.

It also announced a large volley of rockets fired at the Nafah base in the occupied Golan Heights in Syria, identified as the headquarters of the 210th Basha Division of the Israeli army.

In his address, Sheikh Qassem described the confrontation as centered on occupation and sovereignty.

“The problem is occupation, not internal matters, not weapons, not the resistance, and not the national components. The problem is the ongoing violation of sovereignty and the Israeli-American occupation at the level of Lebanon’s airspace and guardianship," he noted.

He decried the Lebanese government's decision to act against the movement in line with Tel Aviv's and Washington's interests.

"They weakened the Lebanese state’s position and legitimized Israel's freedom to continue aggression," Sheikh Qassem stated, adding this is while, “Israel seeks expansion and will not be satisfied with what has occurred."

He cited Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's public expression of desire to try to realize the regime's "Greater Israel" ambitions that seeks to markedly expand Israeli occupation throughout the region.

"This Israel is an existential threat to us, our people, our homeland, and the entire region," Sheikh Qassem cautioned.

He reiterated Hezbollah’s stance on armed resistance. “As long as occupation exists, the resistance and its weapons are a legitimate right, legally and internationally recognized, affirmed in agreements and government statements."

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