Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah speaking to followers on Feb. 16, 2022
The leader of Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah says military jihad and armed resistance is the only way forward to defeat Israel.
Delivering a speech on the occasion of Quds day, the last Friday of Ramadan, Hassan Nasrallah said the path of armed resistance has proven that Israel would not prevail, noting, “We have inflicted many successive defeats on this regime so far”.
He described solo attacks as a special new development deemed dangerous for Israel, and said such operations expose the weaknesses of the Israeli security apparatus because they require no operation room or facilities.
Nasrallah said such operations have damaged the Israelis’ confidence in their army and government, showing them that “security and occupation do not come together”.
Calling for more suicide attacks, he said that “the liberation of Palestine does not require strong armies but needs mujahideen”.
Nasrallah also praised Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei for supporting “the resistance”, saying, "What Imam Khamenei said today underscored his serious and firm commitment to supporting Palestine and the resistance movements in the region."
Earlier in the day, Khamenei warned Arab countries against normalizing ties with Israel, saying that today the Israeli army "has been forced to turn its aggressive formation into a defensive one" and the United States has suffered major setbacks.
Saudi Arabian daily Okaz said last week that Hezbollah has asked Iran for $25 million in addition to the annual funds it receives from Tehran to finance the group’s activities for parliamentary elections in Lebanon.