On Sunday, 27 September 2026, Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem addressed supporters in Lebanon, marking the second anniversary of the killing of longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah. Qassem stated that Israel had failed to break the movement, despite its efforts. The gathering took place in Beirut's southern suburbs, near Nasrallah's tomb, with thousands of Hezbollah supporters in attendance. They carried the group's flags and portraits of its longtime leader.
The commemoration occurred amid ongoing heavy fighting between Hezbollah fighters and Israeli forces in southern Lebanon. Israeli bombardment has continued across the country, resulting in significant damage and displacement. Qassem's speech was televised, in which he emphasized that Hezbollah had demonstrated its resilience against Israeli attempts to "break the resistance, end its existence, consolidate the Israeli occupation and establish settlements in Lebanon."
Qassem called for the liberation of southern Lebanese areas under Israeli occupation, allowing tens of thousands of residents to return to their homes. He referred to a framework agreement reached by the Lebanese government and Israel in June, addressing Israel's continued attacks on Lebanon, Hezbollah's disarmament, and Israel's withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territory. However, Qassem criticized the agreement, stating that the authorities were helping the Israeli-US project instead of confronting it.
The Lebanese army should not be used as "a tool" against Hezbollah, Qassem added. He noted that all pressure on Lebanon aimed to accomplish what Israel was unable to achieve over two years. The November 2024 ceasefire halted large-scale fighting but did not end Israeli attacks. Israel continued airstrikes and maintained its occupation of Lebanese territory, despite the agreement requiring its withdrawal.
Fighting escalated again in March 2026 after Hezbollah attacked Israel amid a wider regional war triggered by US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Israel responded by intensifying its bombardment and launching a ground invasion, causing widespread destruction. Since the war began, Israeli attacks have killed more than 4,300 people in Lebanon, while hundreds of thousands have been displaced.
The gathering took place in Dahiyeh, a Hezbollah stronghold repeatedly hit by Israeli airstrikes during the 2024 and 2026 wars. Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Dahiyeh on September 27, 2024, which levelled six apartment buildings and wounded 91 people. His chosen successor, Hashem Safieddine, was killed in another Israeli strike days later and was also commemorated on Sunday.
Supporters of Hezbollah shared their sentiments, with Ali Nasser from Haddatha in south Lebanon stating that the commemoration was a renewal of their pledge to Nasrallah. Ibrahim Hijazi from Blida in south Lebanon, an area under Israeli occupation, described the occasion as sacred, emphasizing that they would continue on the path illuminated by Nasrallah.
Key points
- Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem says Israel failed to break the group.
- The commemoration marked the second anniversary of Hassan Nasrallah's killing.
- Qassem called for the liberation of southern Lebanese areas under Israeli occupation.
