Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem demanded on Friday that Israel must pull its troops completely out of Lebanon "unconditionally," speaking in a televised address on the Muslim holy day of Ashura as US-mediated ceasefire talks were extended.
Qassem described the US-Iran agreement as an "official declaration of defeat" for the US and Israel. "Israel has no option but to withdraw completely from every inch of our Lebanese land," he said. "Israel must leave unconditionally."
While Israeli attacks in Lebanon have declined since the renewed ceasefire with Hezbollah started last week, they have not stopped. On Friday, an Israeli air raid hit Nabatieh al-Fawqa, and two people were killed in Mayfadoun. Israeli forces dropped leaflets over Mansouri demanding residents leave.
Israel's military reported four soldiers wounded in close-quarter fighting with Hezbollah in Beit Yahoun. Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr noted a reduction in violence but said attacks continue, particularly on frontline villages.
Lebanese officials began direct talks with Israel in Washington in April. A fifth round was expected to continue Friday but was extended for an additional day. Discussions focus on a US-backed proposal for Israeli forces to hand occupied territory back to Lebanon's military.
A US State Department official claimed Israel took a "concrete step" by pulling back from a buffer zone, but Lebanon's military denied this. Israel allegedly conditions withdrawal on Hezbollah's full disarmament and demands Lebanon's army dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure north of the Litani River.
Israel believes continuing attacks on frontline villages gives it leverage with Lebanon's government, according to security sources. Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc reiterated refusal to negotiate directly with Israel and demanded Lebanese authorities not grant Israel areas north of the Litani.
Qassem said Hezbollah would accept "no normalisation, no cancellation of the state of hostility, no gains for Israel." He urged Lebanese authorities to unite against the enemy and not follow US and Israeli interests.
France and Italy proposed an international coalition to manage security after UNIFIL's departure. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun praised the initiative as a sign of international commitment to Lebanon's sovereignty.
Source: www.aljazeera.com