Hezbollah Leader Calls US Midterms a Victory for Lebanon
Naim Qassem declared that Republican losses and Benjamin Netanyahu's weak polling results strengthen the group's stance against disarmament.
By Leah Thompson ·
Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem characterized the recent US midterm elections as an earthquake that benefits Lebanon. He made these remarks on Wednesday while honoring members of the group killed by Israel and their families. Qassem described the political shifts in Washington as a boon for his country and a signal that it should resist the Trump administration's pressure to disarm the organization.
The Republican Party suffered setbacks in the vote held last week. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also performed poorly in Israeli polls. His bloc failed to secure the 61 seats required to maintain power following the October 27 election. Qassem labeled this outcome a defeat for the Israeli leader, who is considered an arch-nemesis by the group.
Qassem insisted that Hezbollah will not surrender its arsenal. He cited the continued Israeli military occupation of parts of southern Lebanon as a primary reason. The leader stated that there would be no state monopoly on resistance weapons, no regulation, and no disarmament while Israeli forces remain in the region. This stance places the group in a standoff with US-backed President Joseph Aoun, who seeks to consolidate state control over weapons.
Qassem assumed the secretary-general role after Israel assassinated Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine in 2024. The conflict escalated after the US and Israel launched surprise attacks on Iran in February. Those strikes killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Hezbollah retaliated with missiles and drones, triggering weeks of intense Israeli strikes on south Lebanon.
Lebanese authorities report that more than 4,300 people were killed in those strikes. The United Nations says approximately one million people were displaced. Qassem praised Iran for closing the Strait of Hormuz, a move that spiked global oil prices and suspended shipping routes. He argued that these actions weaken American and Israeli influence in the region.
President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance both linked their electoral losses to the war and rising fuel costs. Vance stated last week that the war was the reason the party lost. Qassem used this context to urge Lebanese authorities to avoid deals that serve Israeli goals. He asked why leaders bind themselves to positions that support the Israeli project while domestic issues remain unresolved.
Israel continues to occupy large swathes of southern Lebanon. The military has decimated dozens of the roughly 60 villages and towns it controls. Although a US-mediated ceasefire was negotiated in June, Israel continues to bomb the southern region.
