Hezbollah's Qassem Responds to Shifting Syrian Landscape Amid Israel's Military Actions

In a televised address on Saturday, Hezbollah Deputy Secretary-General Naim Qassem addressed recent developments in Syria, including the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad by a sweeping rebel offensive. Qassem revealed that the Lebanese militant group had lost its vital supply route through Syria following Assad's fall. However, he refrained from directly mentioning Assad and stated that Hezbollah would not make any judgments about Syria's new leadership until the country stabilizes.

Despite the uncertainty regarding Syria's future, Qassem expressed hope that Syria’s new rulers would remain hostile toward Israel and refrain from normalizing relations with the Jewish state. He also emphasized Hezbollah's strong opposition to Israeli actions, accusing Israel of seeking to settle in Gaza and annex the West Bank with the support of the United States.

He also took issue with Israel's practice of annihilating Hezbollah's military capabilities, describing this as a "crime against the resistance" and declared that despite Israel's best efforts, Hezbollah resistance had successfully thwarted Israeli objectives.

The speech concluded with Qassem reaffirming Hezbollah's commitment to "resisting Israeli aggression" and continuing its struggle in the region, believing the results of recent developments would lead to a positive outcome for Hezbollah’s cause.

Meanwhile, following Assad's ousting, the security situation along Israel's northern border has shifted dramatically. Israel has extended its buffer zone in southern Syria to prevent the rise of jihadi groups and to maintain control over strategic sites near its border. The Israeli government insists this deployment is temporary and aims to ensure security until a force aligned with the 1974 Disengagement Agreement can be established.

Syria's interim government has strongly objected to these actions, filing a formal complaint with the UN Security Council. The Syrian ambassador to the UN, Koussay Aldahhak, criticized Israel's expansion into Mount Hermon and the Quneitra Governorate, calling it a violation of Syria's sovereignty.

Israeli officials have stated that the military actions are necessary to prevent extremist groups from filling the vacuum left by the fall of Assad’s regime. The Prime Minister's Office also reiterated its commitment to ensuring that Syria’s collapse does not pose a threat to Israeli security.

The United Nations has voiced concerns over the escalating situation, with Secretary-General António Guterres condemning Israel's violations of Syria's territorial integrity. Guterres also stressed the importance of supporting a credible and inclusive transition in Syria, particularly during a time of significant political upheaval.