Sheikh Qassem: Reconstruction is not a favor from anyone, and we will not accept blackmail under this pretext.
Qassem: Lebanon cannot move forward under US guardianship, and the US must respect the Lebanese people’s will for independence and non-interference in its affairs.
Sheikh Qassem: They say they are linking reconstruction to disarmament, we say we are the ones linking weapons to reconstruction.
Sheikh Qassem: Moving to the second phase requires implementing the first phase, which includes the withdrawal of “Israel,” an end to its aggression, and the actual start of reconstruction.
Sheikh Qassem: Hezbollah has fulfilled its responsibilities; let “Israel” fulfill its own, and let the Lebanese state fulfill its own.
Qassem: We will not discuss the details of the defensive strategy in the media, nor will we preempt the principles that will be agreed upon once we sit at the dialogue table.
Sheikh Qassem: Let “Israel” withdraw and stop its aggressions, including its air violations, as an important step toward engaging in discussions on the defensive strategy.
Sheikh Qassem: When we are invited to dialogue, we will be ready, but not under the pressure of occupation.
Sheikh Qassem: There was an exchange of messages with the President of the Republic regarding the implementation of the agreement south of the Litani, and the messages were positive and will remain so.
Sheikh Qassem: The second principle stipulates that any dialogue serves to leverage the strength of the resistance and its weapons in any defensive strategy.
Protests in al-Hasakah, Qamishli against Syria's transitional declaration
Cities across Syria’s al-Hasakah province, under Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) control, witnessed widespread protests following the signing of Syria’s constitutional declaration by Ahmed al-Sharaa, head of the transitional administration. The declaration establishes a five-year transitional period, concentrating power in the hands of the president without oversight, sparking rejection among the Kurdish community. Protesters decried the exclusionary nature of the new government, accusing it of sidelining ethnic and sectarian groups from national decision-making. Demonstrators carried banners condemning the marginalization policies and urged international and Arab intervention to ensure a more inclusive political process.