We at the Al-Andalus Tribune are not just non-sectarian but anti-sectarian. We are Muslims, and we are trying to be dialogic. That means we want to listen, really listen, to all of the most interesting voices of the Ummah, and beyond, just as the avant-garde of Al-Andalus did during the Islamic Golden Age.
The leaders of the Axis of Resistance (to Zionism and imperialism) have earned the right to be heard. They have made great sacrifices in defense of Palestine and Al-Aqsa.
Global media, especially Western media, are dominated by enemies of Islam who ceaselessly defame the Axis of Resistance. They don’t want you to hear what its leaders are saying. Instead, they want to you to buy the media’s lies and distortions.
That’s why it’s so important to go straight to the source. Listen to the actual leaders. You will likely agree with some of what you hear, and disagree or have questions about other things. But at least you will be arguing with real people, instead of buying in to the defamatory lies of the shayateen who are at this very moment committing genocide as they plot to destroy Masjid al-Aqsa.
-Editor
Background: Hezbollah holds firm in Lebanon’s municipal elections (al-Jazeera English)
Full Speech by Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem on May 25, 2025, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Liberation of Southern Lebanon
Source: https://naimkassem.com.lb
Translation: resistancenewsorg
Introduction
- Resistance and Liberation Day
- The Current Situation
- The Municipal Elections
Conclusion
Introduction
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to God, Lord of the worlds. May peace and blessings be upon the noblest of all creation, our master, our beloved, and our guide, Abu al-Qasim Muhammad, upon his noble and pure family, his virtuous and chosen companions, and upon all the prophets and the righteous until the Day of Judgment. Peace be upon you, and the mercy and blessings of God.
Today, we commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of Resistance and Liberation Day—an event that affirmed Lebanon’s status in the region and in the world, overturned established balances of power, and enabled the country to transition from weakness to strength. It is a celebration that has allowed the Lebanese people to live in dignity, pride, and sovereignty on their own land.
On this occasion, I will address three topics:
- Resistance and Liberation Day
- The current situation
- The municipal elections
1. Resistance and Liberation Day
What enabled the emergence and rise of this great Resistance, culminating in such an immense achievement?
Israel occupied Palestine, then began to attack Lebanon and several other countries in the region. Lebanon had no choice but to respond through resistance, as its army was incapable of repelling the Israeli aggression, and all international conditions were favorable to the enemy. The birth of the Resistance was therefore entirely natural for a proud people who refused humiliation, occupation, and submission to this enemy.
The Palestinian Resistance then established itself in Lebanon as a bridgehead, supported by national and Islamic forces. This movement began to grow directly in the 1960s and 1970s. Imam Moussa al-Sadr then asserted himself as the Imam of the Resistance and leader of its movement, notably by founding the Amal Movement—the movement of the dispossessed—in the 1970s, to confront the Israeli enemy in an organized manner starting in 1974.
During this period, Israel launched “Operation Litani,” officially to push the Palestinian and Lebanese Resistance away from the borders, and occupied part of Lebanese territory. In 1978, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 425, calling on Israel to withdraw from Lebanese territory. Israel did not withdraw in 1978.
On April 18, 1979, Israel created and sponsored the so-called “Free State of Lebanon,” led by Major Saad Haddad. This entity was the prelude to a project of secession, annexation, and colonization. In 1980, it became the Free Lebanon Army, and in 1984, the South Lebanon Army. This entire process of name changes by Saad Haddad and his successors was aimed at justifying the confiscation of part of Lebanese territory, which had begun in 1978.
In 1982, Israel launched a large-scale invasion of Lebanon, reaching the capital, Beirut. This occupation was justified under the pretext of expelling the PLO and the Palestinians from Lebanon. Their departure to Tunisia eventually took place, meaning that Israel’s stated objective had been fulfilled. But Israel remained, and sought to impose the May 17, 1983 agreement. Although approved by Parliament, this agreement was rejected by a popular, religious, and national Resistance, which, with the support of Syria, succeeded in preventing Israel from implementing this humiliating agreement that would have given it control over Lebanon.
The Resistance continued its struggle. Hezbollah began to organize officially and at the grassroots level starting in 1982, joining other factions in isolated but continuous operations across southern Lebanon and in all areas occupied by the Israeli enemy.
Under mounting pressure, Israel partially withdrew in 1985, three years after the 1982 invasion, retreating to a zone in southern Lebanon known as the Lebanese border strip, approximately 1,100 km² in area—representing 55% of southern Lebanon, or around 11% of the national territory of 10,452 km².
From 1985 until the liberation in 2000, this strip of land remained under occupation by the Israeli enemy, and armed resistance was the only way to confront it. Many voices in Lebanon claimed that “the eye cannot defeat the needle,” seeking to demoralize by asserting that any form of resistance was futile and could not alter the reality on the ground. They promoted diplomacy and the political route as the only means to achieve an Israeli withdrawal. Yet since the adoption of Resolution 425 in 1978, Israel had never retreated.
It was therefore necessary to continue the struggle, at the cost of sacrifices, effort, and blood. During this period, the fight against collaborators and against the Israeli enemy was carried out in close combat, with limited means and modest capabilities. The Resistance struck everywhere. The people supported the Resistance in various ways, enduring imprisonment—particularly in the Khiam detention center and the prisons of the Israeli entity—and many other forms of suffering.
But the will to resist and expel this enemy from our land prevailed. Submission was not an option, despite the immense disparity in capabilities. In the face of the Resistance’s determination and resolve, Israel came to understand that it could not establish a lasting presence on Lebanese soil—neither the South Lebanon Army, nor tanks, nor aircraft, nor aggression would be enough.
Beginning in 1999, Israeli political leaders—most notably Barak and Netanyahu—began competing electorally over a platform of withdrawing from southern Lebanon. Elections were held in 2000. Prior to this withdrawal, Israel attempted to reach an agreement. Lebanon refused. Israel then sought to negotiate through Syria, which at the time had control over the situation in Lebanon, but Syria refused all compromises. Israel believed that by postponing its withdrawal, it might secure a deal—but no agreement could be reached with either Lebanon or Syria.
As a result, Israel withdrew earlier than planned and completed its pullout on May 24. We then declared May 25 as Liberation Day. The Israelis left under cover of night, even abandoning their collaborators without notifying them. When local youth and residents entered the deserted posts and barracks, they found, in some places, meals still warm—those who had been eating had not expected such a sudden collapse. Israel did not inform its collaborators of its departure; on the contrary, it even boasted of having exited the country without the Resistance noticing, thus ensuring the safety of its soldiers during the retreat.
This was a major victory for the Resistance, a powerful sign for this dear, valiant, generous, and self-sacrificing people who, through this first victory, succeeded in breaking Israel—forcing it to abandon occupied territory without conditions or agreement. No accord was concluded. In an effort to help Israel reach a compromise by indirect means, the United Nations and the Security Council refused to send international emergency forces in the absence of a prior agreement under their auspices. But no one reached an agreement with Israel.
They had wagered that a withdrawal around May 25 would provoke problems between the Resistance and its popular base—that sectarian tensions would erupt between Muslims and Christians, that assassinations would occur, that unrest and complications would ensue, sparking internal strife in Lebanon and hindering both the Resistance and the Lebanese state.
But not a single blow was struck. Captured collaborators were handed over to the Lebanese state to be tried. The Resistance reassured the families of the collaborators, telling them that they bore them no ill will and that they should not bear the burden of their children’s actions, even if they shared their views. Those who had not taken part in the fighting were not troubled, and those who fled were allowed to leave freely. There was no bloodshed, no tension, no religious or sectarian unrest in the border areas.
The Security Council waited nearly a year before deciding to send international emergency forces. Remember that after Israel’s unilateral withdrawal, the South remained without any international presence for over a year—a way of exerting pressure on us—on the Resistance and the Lebanese state alike—to impose solutions favorable to Israel. When it became clear that this was impossible, they finally deployed the international forces.
This was a tremendous achievement for the Resistance fighters. Liberation Day marked a turning point in the region—politically, culturally, and in the realm of struggle. It carried us from despair to hope, from submission to resistance, from humiliation to dignity, from defeat to victory. As the Quran says:
“And indeed, Our word has already gone forth to Our servants, the messengers, that it is they who will be helped, and indeed, it is Our soldiers who will be victorious.” (Surah 37, verses 171–173)
What did we gain from this blessed victory? The Resistance evolved from a mere project with the potential to achieve liberation into a solid pillar of the strong Lebanon of tomorrow. In its early days, the Resistance was but an idea—one that could succeed or fail, yield results or not. But with the celebration of Resistance and Liberation Day, with the unconditional expulsion of Israel after 22 years of occupation, no one can any longer deny the importance or the role of the Resistance. It was the Resistance that shaped the Liberation of Lebanon. It inaugurated a new future for the country. It elevated Lebanon to the rank of a power, granting it an important status and role in the region. It was the Resistance that compelled all foreign powers to acknowledge that Lebanon must be treated as an equal.
This is a major achievement: the Resistance and the Liberation, and the Resistance and Liberation Day, constitute an entirely new phase—unlike anything that came before. Before this, we spoke of the importance of the Resistance. But since this holiday, the Resistance has become a fundamental component of Lebanon’s national identity. For the threat posed by the Israeli enemy persists, and its aggressions remain ongoing.
All credit for what has been accomplished—the Liberation, the feat, the victory—belongs first and foremost to Almighty God. The Master of the Martyrs of the Ummah, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah—may God Almighty be pleased with him—declared in Bint Jbeil on May 25, 2000:
“This victory is a divine victory.”
And so it is. It is a divine victory because the few triumphed over the many; because the believers defeated the deviants, the unbelievers, and those who had strayed from obedience to God; because justice triumphed over oppression and perversion. Divine support was present—alongside much that remains beyond our perception, but whose effects we witnessed through the bold and targeted operations carried out by the Resistance in southern Lebanon, leading to this resounding victory.
Credit is due to the one who launched the Resistance: Imam Moussa al-Sadr, the Imam of the Resistance in Lebanon. It is also due to the inspiring leaders: His Eminence Sheikh Ragheb Harb—may God be pleased with him; the former Secretary-General (of Hezbollah), His Eminence Sayyed Abbas al-Moussawi—may God be pleased with him; the visionary commander Hajj Imad Mughniyeh, the commander of the two victories (in 2000 and 2006); and the great pearl, the shining jewel of the Resistance, the emblem of all resistance fighters and free men around the world—His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah—may God be pleased with him—who carried the Resistance, led it to victory, to prominence, and to deep-rooted influence across the region.
For the first time, we gather to commemorate Resistance and Liberation Day, 25 years later, without His Eminence (Sayyed Nasrallah) among us. This grieves us deeply, but also brings us solace: he is watching over us from his exalted place, and by the grace of Almighty God, we remain faithful to our commitment.
Here we must pay tribute to the martyrs, the wounded, the prisoners who made sacrifices; to the families who bore the burden alongside them; and to all those who took part in the Resistance: the Army, the People, and the Resistance—all contributed to this achievement and this great Liberation.
In these final moments, I must also remember the martyr Ahmad Yahya Abu Dhar, who fell on May 24, 2000, after being struck by a shell on the 21st. On his deathbed, he said:
“Praise be to God, who allowed me to witness both blessings: victory and martyrdom.”
He saw victory with Israel’s withdrawal, and fell as a martyr immediately thereafter.
It is these noble examples that led to the Liberation—examples that have brought us honor and pride.
We must express our gratitude to His Excellency, the President and Resister, General Emile Lahoud, who provided strong support and valuable assistance to the Resistance, as well as to all those who facilitated this victory. We also extend our thanks to former Prime Minister, President Salim al-Hoss—may God have mercy on him—who stated frankly:
“This great achievement accomplished by Lebanon in liberating its land from the yoke of occupation is owed to the valiant Resistance and to the support of the Lebanese people.”
He was bold, clear, and unwavering in his support for the Resistance.
Today, special thanks are due to the commander of the army, General Haykal, for the statement he issued, in which he expressed his own patriotism and that of the army, as well as the place and role of this institution. He affirmed:
“This event is historic in its achievements, and the Liberation is a national accomplishment.”
To him, and to all, I affirm: we will always remain faithful to this triad—the Army, the People, and the Resistance—in order to build the future and fulfill the promise of Liberation.
Five conclusions can be drawn from Resistance and Liberation Day:
- The Resistance was born out of necessity in the face of the enemy, because Lebanon could not remain passive under occupation. Resistance becomes the natural response when the army is unable to act, and its support when the army is capable.
- The Resistance enabled Lebanon to move from weakness to strength.
- The Resistance proved to be the only viable path to Liberation.
- Israel lost its capacity to expand into Lebanon. It is no longer able to annex or encroach upon our territory, regardless of the means it employs.
- The era of victories, inaugurated by the great triumph of May 2000, brought about a transformation in occupied Palestine: armed resistance reemerged, achieved miracles, shook the enemy, and placed it—by God’s grace—on the path to disappearance.
Resistance and Liberation Day was the prelude to everything that followed. So today, when I hear on television a sister, blinded by a pager bomb attack, whose husband is a martyr and who is raising two children, speaking with courage, strength, determination, and patience, saying:
“I am ready to give more—whatever I can offer, I will give,”
and expressing satisfaction with her condition—I say to myself: What an admirable woman! And she is not alone. There are many like her in our society who give, sacrifice, and devote themselves. And when Hadi, an eleven-year-old child, speaks and says:
“We promise to always follow this path,”
even though he was wounded by a pager bomb, lost an eye, and several fingers on his hands, he speaks with bravery and confidence, charting his future on the path of Resistance.
Know this: this generous and proud people, these families who embrace the Resistance and its fighters, those who confronted the Israeli enemy with bare hands, who raise their children in strength, dignity, faith, and piety, and who reject humiliation and submission—these people will always succeed and reach their goals.
2/ The Current Situation
Secondly, what is our situation today?
The Resistance continues. It is the choice of the people and of all those who believe in it. Resistance is a choice, a people, a will.
To those who ask whether the Resistance will endure, we reply: It will endure. It will endure—even in your heart, you who reject it. It will endure in blood and sacrifice, in glory, in victory, in greatness, in dignity. It will endure through the martyrs, the wounded, and the prisoners; through pious, pure, and faithful families; through the children who aspire to be on the front lines to defend honor and homeland. Those who are bound so deeply to Almighty God, to their land, and to their dignity can never be defeated. Victory will always be theirs.
If I had to redefine this Resistance, I would say that it is a defensive Resistance—a rejection of occupation and surrender. Resistance is a choice: at times it fights and deters, at times it stands firm and prevents, at times it waits patiently and remains vigilant. Resistance does not necessarily mean that weapons are in use or that daily attacks take place. Resistance is a path, a direction. Weapons are but tools—used at the right moment, with discernment, and according to necessity. Thus, Resistance is an act of will, a popular act, a conscious choice.
In response to Israeli aggression, the Lebanese state concluded an indirect ceasefire with the Israeli entity. The state has honored its commitments, and we, as the Resistance, have fully complied with them. But 3,300 Israeli violations are not a matter of one or two infractions—they constitute ongoing aggression. Israeli aggression continues despite our complete adherence to the agreement.
Let this be clear to everyone: do not ask anything more of us. Let Israel withdraw, cease its aggression, release the prisoners, and fulfill all the obligations outlined in the agreement—then we will see.
And here, it is the United States that must bear responsibility. From the very beginning—in Gaza and elsewhere—it has served as the guarantor of continued aggression. The state must act with greater effectiveness. Demand accountability from them. Silence them. And if necessary, shout at them. Lebanon must stand strong, confident, and free—with its people and its children. Fear nothing. What can they do to you if you raise your voice? If you speak out at the Security Council? If you send messages to all nations? If Lebanese diplomacy mobilizes? If the Council of Ministers raises its voice at every session? If all relevant parties rally together?
This is what must happen: to overwhelm them with a multitude of positions and pressures. The state bears this responsibility.
We have said it before, and we repeat it now: if the state fails in its role—even though it has the capacity to fulfill it—other options exist. Do not ask me what those options are. But know this: the Resistance will not remain silent in the face of injustice, and it will not yield. For now, it is exercising patience and endurance. We have taken a position that it is the state’s responsibility to respond—and that will require time. We are granting that time. But the time to act is now.
The martyrs of this phase are the martyrs of the Battle of the Mighty Ones [the name given by Hezbollah to the September–November 2024 war against Israel] whether they are martyrs from among the people or from the Resistance. The wounded and all current losses are the result of continued aggression. To this day, we consider the war with the Israeli enemy not over, because it has not honored its commitments. All our tributes go to those making sacrifices.
If Israel believes it can pressure us with military force and unrelenting attacks, it should know this will only reinforce our determination, our steadfastness, and our will. Let no one imagine that such actions could cause us to back down.
Look today to Yemen—this remarkable model. Despite all its power and influence, even the United States has failed to continue its aggression. It was ultimately forced to withdraw before these courageous heroes who rose up for Gaza, for Palestine, for Arab, Islamic, and human dignity.
Look at the people of Gaza: for twenty months, they have borne the worst sacrifices. They have shed their blood and endured destruction while being subjected to unimaginable aggression, genocide, unprecedented devastation, inhumane acts, and unspeakable brutality—all with the tyrannical, inhuman, and arrogant support of the United States. And yet, despite all these atrocities, the aggressors have failed to achieve their objectives.
As for the crimes committed in Gaza, even within Israel—within what they call the “opposition,” whether Golan, Barak, Olmert, or others, including members of Likud—all acknowledge that Netanyahu and his allies are starving the population, killing relentlessly, and failing to achieve their goals. Where is the world? The Americans have cleared the way for them to continue, and this is extremely dangerous.
Let us be clear: in our view—and this is a lesson from history—Israel is doomed to fall.
“And say: The truth has come, and falsehood has vanished. Indeed, falsehood is bound to vanish.” (Qur’an, Surah 17, Verse 81)
You may ask me when this will happen. I do not know. But injustice on this scale cannot endure, cannot take root, cannot stabilize. Israel may fall due to internal division, to a renewed rise in Resistance and authentic strength, or because the United States will no longer be able to sustain it. We do not know how Israel’s collapse will occur, but we are certain of this: injustice can never be permanently established on this earth.
Today, the United States is overstepping the bounds of Lebanon’s sovereignty. They must stop boasting, issuing orders to our officials, and placing undue pressure on our country. Their actions are misguided. If they believe that by pressuring Lebanese leaders they can impose Israeli conditions, I say this to them: you will not obtain today what you failed to secure through war. These conditions will never be accepted, no matter the sacrifices or the cost of confrontation.
Let no one threaten us. We do not yield to threats. We have only two options—no more: victory or martyrdom. We are prepared for either. But capitulation? Withdrawal? Submission to threats and aggression? That is absolutely out of the question. We are the sons of Hussein—may God’s peace be upon him—who gave everything and received everything in return, and who achieved a victory cherished by the entire Ummah, engraved forever in time and history. We are the sons of His Eminence, the Master of the Martyrs of the Ummah, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. That lineage forbids us from lagging behind—it propels us forward.
Almighty God says in His Book:
“How many of the prophets fought (in God’s way), and with them (fought) large bands of godly men? But they never lost heart if they met with disaster in Allah’s way, nor did they weaken (in will) nor give in. And Allah loves those who are firm and steadfast.” (Quran, 3:146)
Victory will come, by God’s grace.
Allow me to share with you a slogan—one I believe many urgently need to hear: Just as no one can relocate Lebanon—can you lift Lebanese soil and place it elsewhere? It is impossible—so too, no one can uproot the Resistance from the land of Lebanon. It is deeply rooted in this soil, inextricably bound to the blood of its martyrs, to every grain of wheat, every flower, every tree, every breath of resilience. Abandon these illusions. The Resistance has become inseparable from the very fabric of Lebanon. And this fabric is supported by the Resistance—by its people, by its honorable and dignified citizens. This support must continue, for it is what guarantees Lebanon’s very survival.
We advise President Trump to seize the historic opportunity before him: to free himself from Israel’s grip. If you truly wish to dominate the world economically, know this—Israel is a burden. It nearly dragged you into the abyss in Yemen, but you were shrewd: you withdrew, and thus saved face somewhat. Today, continuing to grant Israel carte blanche in Gaza and in Lebanon means forfeiting a crucial opportunity for the United States to invest in Lebanon and in the region. Israel stands at the edge of collapse—stop it. It survives only because of you. It is Trump who breathes into it the strength to persist in its aggression. But this persistent aggression—especially against Lebanon—not only undermines stability, it gravely endangers it.
Let me say this clearly: there can be no stability in one part of Lebanon without stability across the entire country. Lebanon’s stability is not divisible. It is holistic. It depends on the unity of all its components, on mutual trust and social cohesion. No one has the right to exclude another. This country belongs to us all. We have watered it with our blood. No one will take it from us, and we will not be torn from it by anyone.
I want to underscore a fundamental truth: reconstruction is the first pillar of stability. The security of citizens across the nation depends on it. The government must act more effectively. It is inconceivable that—even publicly—countries like Iraq, a noble, brave, and dignified nation, have expressed, through the voice of the Sudanese Prime Minister, their willingness to contribute financially to Lebanon’s reconstruction. I know that all of Iraq—its religious authorities, its forces, its people, its factions, and its leaders—stands in solidarity with Lebanon and with Palestine, and ardently wishes to participate in rebuilding. But it is Lebanon that must take the first step—to lead the way, to establish a fund, to take concrete action.
Iran, that generous Islamic country—the Iran of the Supreme Leader, Imam Khamenei, may God protect him—the Iran of a people who have always stood by us, alongside the Resistance, alongside Lebanon, alongside Palestine, has clearly and repeatedly informed the Lebanese authorities of its readiness to help us. But once again, it is up to the Lebanese state to take the initiative, to establish a reconstruction fund according to the terms it deems appropriate. Other countries have also contacted us, though not publicly, due to certain reservations. However, they too are ready to act as soon as Lebanon takes the lead. With God’s grace, aid and reconstruction will follow. But the Lebanese government must recover its bearings. It no longer has any excuse to delay, as this directly affects the country’s stability.
This country—Lebanon—is progressing thanks to our cooperation. We are the foundation of all the progress it is experiencing. Our positive contributions are present in every challenge and every milestone: the presidential election, government formation, municipal elections, appointments, and stages in passing laws. We are an integral part of all that is constructive in Lebanon today. If some obstruct or attempt to block progress for external reasons, we say to them: we will build Lebanon with our will, our convictions, and the sacrifices of our people. This is self-evident. And, with God’s grace, we will triumph, establishing a strong Lebanon that brings together all its sons. A stable Lebanon is good for us, and also for others, including Arab and foreign nations. It is in our shared interest.
No one can blackmail us in the name of stability. No one can blackmail us in the name of reconstruction. No one will blackmail us to strip us of our independence in decision-making. Never. Our decision will remain sovereign.
So let us rise with courage—and others will come to us. Enough of those who show weakness and make Lebanon appear incapable. Stand firm, for behind you stand the Army, the People, and the Resistance. No one can shake us. And, with God’s grace, we will accomplish what is expected of us.
Sidebar: see Norman Finkelstein’s Letter in Support of Salah, Expelled from the CGT Union for Gaza Solidarity.
3/ Municipal Elections
Third and final point: the (recent) municipal and local elections. From the outset, we affirmed our commitment to holding these elections on schedule—despite the aggression against the South and the whole of Lebanon, and despite the situation in the Lebanese border region. We have always emphasized that holding these elections on time is essential, because we seek to strengthen the state and enable this people to develop its capacity for growth and state-building.
Thank God, turnout was significant. When I saw the cars leaving Beirut for the South on Friday, the scene reminded me of the year 2000, when cars were also streaming toward the South. It also brought to mind the November 27, 2024 ceasefire, after the Battle of the Mighty Ones, when cars were still heading south. It was the same image. This people is always on the front line: in elections, in the struggle against Israel, in resistance, in perseverance, in its attachment to the land. I sincerely salute them. I salute all the people of southern Lebanon. Their generosity and their stance are a testament to their strength, their pride, their dignity, their independence, and their unwavering will to remain at the forefront of the country’s liberation.
Now, I would like to highlight four key takeaways from the municipal elections:
First, the active participation—especially by supporters of Hezbollah and the Amal Movement—under the Development and Loyalty list, was very significant, with the backing of allies and families. I even wish to thank those who formed competing lists, for they too contributed to the success of this electoral process. We express our full thanks and gratitude to the workers, the electoral machines, the families, the Lebanese state—which fulfilled its responsibilities—and to all those who participated and contributed. Thank you for this resounding, exceptional victory. We have achieved unprecedented support, exceeding 50% of the municipalities in some provinces—an extraordinary accomplishment.
Some people are uncomfortable with victories achieved without the need for an election—when there is a single list. But my brother, that’s called agreement, and agreement means understanding. Are you rejecting understanding just because you covet a seat? My brother, you won’t win a seat even without understanding—so you might as well seek it. In any case, where competition is necessary, let it happen. But if there’s a chance to form a single list, why reject it? We support the path of consensus.
I want to express my gratitude to our faithful, loyal, courageous, and dedicated people: In the Bekaa, bastion of resistance, pride, generosity, bravery, and honor; In Beirut, fortress of the free and symbol of the expulsion of the Israeli occupation; In the southern suburbs of Beirut, a reservoir of sacrifice, devotion, and generosity, and always a magnet for free men; In South Lebanon, the vanguard of liberation, resistance, pride, and dignity; In Mount Lebanon, land of support and solidarity; In the North, cradle of unity and cohesion.
All Lebanese regions—whether in the elections where we participated directly, or those where others took part in the absence of our lists or candidates—all deserve our gratitude and appreciation for their participation. These municipal elections form the foundation for the launch of the state’s administration and its development institutions. The state must support the municipalities so that they can get off to a strong and effective start.
Secondly, we conducted these elections in a spirit of national unity. We served as a factor of social stability and national balance among the country’s diverse components. In Beirut, we participated with a list that brought together many forces—including some with whom we have neither agreement nor cooperation, and even some that make unfair statements about us. But we prioritized the country’s best interest: to maintain balance, to ensure that Christians do not feel marginalized, and that everyone can work together within the same municipality. This was the model we presented in Beirut: working for the national interest.
We applied the same approach in Haret Hreik: we put forward a Christian as head of the list, along with Christian members, ensuring the list was competitive—and, thank God, it was victorious. The same was true in Mashghara: the head of the list was Christian, others joined the effort, and again, by God’s grace, our list won.
In Baalbek, we faced a push to give these elections a sectarian color. But, by the grace of God, we reached an agreement with the families and succeeded in presenting an image that enabled the Development and Loyalty list to win by more than 6,000 votes. This result also reflects the support and cooperation of the local population with our lists—those of Hezbollah, the Amal Movement, our allies, and the families.
Let me tell you this: we entered these elections with a national will, under a unifying banner, and with a spirit of development. We do not seek to exclude anyone. On the contrary, we have extended a hand to cooperate with all, and we have offered the most noble example. I say to you as well: Hezbollah and the Amal Movement have proven to be a social safety valve, a pillar of national balance, and they have always placed this mission at the forefront.
Thirdly, the electoral alliance between Hezbollah and the Amal Movement represents unity, strength, cohesion, and solidarity around the Resistance and a shared political project. It is the largest, most strategic and influential alliance. Some people are annoyed by it… But why, my brothers? If you are our relatives and friends, there is no reason for dismay. As for the enemy—it is only natural they are upset. This alliance is indestructible, and it moves forward with unwavering resolve.
Fourth and final point: the single lists we supported were built on understanding and cooperation with the people. That is why we say to you: in the municipalities, our support was not offered on the eve of the elections, nor a month or two before, as some others do—but for nine years, ever since the previous municipal term. We supported them then, and we will continue to support them now. After the elections, we believe the real competition among the people should focus on service, especially from the wealthy and expatriates who support their villages.
Conclusion
Congratulations to you all on the occasion of Resistance and Liberation Day. With God’s grace, may all our days be days of celebration. With God’s grace, the Resistance will endure, the victories will continue, Israel will withdraw and will be defeated. It will not be able to remain among you, dear noble people.
With God’s grace, we will rebuild our country, our villages, and we will work together toward reconstruction and liberation.
Peace be upon you, and the mercy and blessings of God.
