The Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Sheikh Naim Qassem, issued the following statement: "The battlefield has proven that it holds the final say, and successful politics are those that capitalize on its outcomes as a source of strength to compel the 'Israeli' enemy into submission, in order to secure the rights of Lebanon and its citizens to their land and sovereignty, within a cooperative national framework that closes the doors to strife and foreign exploitation of our country. The temporary ceasefire would not have happened were it not for the jihad of the resistance fighters on the honorable southern frontiers, in a legendary performance that astonished the world, and in martyrological steadfastness before the US-'Israeli' enemy despite a massive imbalance in military power balances. The resistance fighters proved that their three-dimensional weapon—faith, will, and capability—is stronger than all the armies of the aggressors, and that in Lebanon there are those who sacrifice the precious and the priceless for the sake of liberation, dignity, and independence. Their progress toward the noble goal is not hindered by the presence of the defeatists, the disheartening, and the backstabbers, because they offered their skulls to Almighty God first, and they are surrounded by a noble and sacrificing people who endured killing, destruction, displacement, and the costs of dignity and pride. This people is from all sects, denominations, and regions, and their destination is southern Lebanon, because all of Lebanon is its south; if the south smiles and is liberated, all of Lebanon smiles and is liberated. Praise be to Almighty God first, for He is the Supporter and the Helper, and thanks be to the heroes of the resistance who broke the advance of the Israeli enemy despite its mobilization of 100,000 soldiers on the border; it was unable to reach the Litani either in the first week as it planned, nor in 45 days in the battle of 'Asf al-Ma'kul' [Eaten Straw]. Continued thanks go to the contributions and sacrifices of the families, the people, and the well-wishers. Thirdly, thanks go to the Islamic Republic of Iran—its leadership and people—which supported and backed [us], tied the ceasefire to the Pakistan agreement to halt it in Lebanon explicitly in the official announcement, then closed the Strait of Hormuz in response to the American breach of the ceasefire in Lebanon, after which came the American submission and the compulsion of the Israeli enemy to halt it, leading to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. We have followed this path moment by moment. We must also thank the sponsorship of Pakistan and all those who helped, even through statements supporting the ceasefire in Lebanon. We read a publication issued by the US Department of State titled: 'Ceasefire Agreement Between Lebanon and 'Israel' - April 2026', issued after the ceasefire went into effect. It means nothing on a practical level, but it is an insult to our country and our homeland Lebanon for America to dictate its text and speak on behalf of the Lebanese government, as the beginning of the statement stated: 'The government of 'Israel' and the government of Lebanon have agreed to the text of the following statement,' while everyone knows that the government of Lebanon did not meet and did not issue approval for this statement. Enough of burdening Lebanon with these insults in direct negotiations with the Israeli enemy to listen to its dictations, and in the shameful picture in Washington where tyranny gathers around the prey and issues positions on behalf of Lebanon; this is a slippery slope that never ends. Enough, for the people of Lebanon are noble, and they will remain so through solidarity and cohesion with the army, the people, the resistance, and the political authority that wants the independence and liberation of Lebanon. The ceasefire means a complete cessation of all hostile acts, and because we do not trust this enemy, the resistance fighters will remain in the field with their fingers on the trigger, and they will respond to the breaches of aggression accordingly. There is no ceasefire from the resistance side alone; rather, it must be from both sides, and we will not accept the fifteen-month course of patience with the 'Israeli' aggression while waiting for diplomacy that has achieved nothing. The next step is the implementation of five points: 1- A permanent cessation of aggression across all of Lebanon by air, land, and sea. 2- The withdrawal of the 'Israeli' enemy from occupied territories up to the border. 3- The release of prisoners. 4- The return of the families to their villages and towns up to the border. 5- Reconstruction with international and Arab support and national responsibility. Hezbollah is open to the utmost cooperation with the authority in Lebanon on a new page built on achieving the sovereignty of our homeland Lebanon, within the framework of unity, preventing strife, and investing the capabilities of strength within the national security strategy. We are building our homeland Lebanon together, preventing foreigners from tutelage and from achieving the goals of the Israeli enemy through politics, and translating sovereignty and the protection of citizens through clear procedures and plans. Israel and the tyrants of the earth with it have not defeated us, and they will not defeat us, especially after the contributions of the martyrs—foremost among them the master of the nation's martyrs, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah (may God be pleased with him), Sayyed al-Hashemi, and all the martyrs—and the contributions of the wounded, the prisoners, and the great people. Lebanon's head will remain held high by its sacrificing sons."