Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem delivered a speech on Sunday at a memorial ceremony marking the annual anniversary of the passing of the late founding leader Haj Mohammad Hasan Yaghi (Abou Salim).
Hezbollah ceremony in tribute of late official Mohammad Yaghi was held  in the eastern Lebanese town of Baalbeck on Sunday.
At the start of his speech, Qassem paid tribute to late Hezbollah official Mohammad Yaghi (Abu Salim), saying that “Resistance was his path throughout his entire life.”
He said that “Abu Salim Yaghi’s first role models were Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Mohammad Baqer Al-Sadr, Imam Sayyed Mousa Al-Sadr, Imam Khomeini, and Imam Khamenei.”
The Hezbollah chief also congratulated the Lebanese people on Christmas and on the start of the holy month of Rajab.
Hezbollah’s Sheikh Qassem further offered condolences over the passing away of prominent scholar Sheikh Rida Mahdi.
“Lebanon is in the midst of storm and instability because of the US policies and the Israeli attacks,” Qassem said.
“Israeli aggression against Lebanon did not stop despite the 2024 ceasefire agreement,” he continued.
“Hezbollah’s path in Lebanon has been and remains bright and shining,” he declared, adding that “Hezbollah and the Islamic Resistance liberated entire Lebanon, not just the south, in cooperation with various factions as well as with the support of the Lebanese Army and the people.
“Hezbollah’s performance in Parliament as well as in the Government has been characterized by clean hands as the party contributed to state building,” Qassem also noted.
“Today we stand at a crucial historical juncture; either we grant the United States and Israel what they want, namely complete control over Lebanon, or we rise up nationally to reclaim our sovereignty and our land.”
According to Qassem, Hezbollah disarmament is an Israeli-US project, even if it is being circulated under the title of “arms monopoly,” highlighting that “Those who call for ‘arms monopoly’don’t serve Lebanon’s national interests but rather serve the Israeli enemy’s interests.
“One year have passed on the ceasefire agreement, the Lebanese side has made commitments and concessions while the Israeli enemy continues its attacks without pause,” he further said, adding that There will be no Lebanon left if its south is lost, you are all responsible to unite and salvage our country.”
“Disarmament aims to end the resistance, annex part of Lebanon and to turn the rest of the country into a tool for the US and ‘Israel’ Qassem continued to say.
“The Lebanese government made concessions for nothing, while ‘Israel’ offered nothing in return,” he complained, stressing that “Lebanon is no longer required to take any action until ‘Israel’ fulfills its obligations.” 
“Israeli aerial, land and naval aggression must stop as well as a complete withdrawal must be implemented, prisoners released and reconstruction completed,” he stressed.
“The relationship between Hezbollah and Amal Movement is strong and solid, and we will remain united,” he further said.
“Do your worst, we won’t surrender and we’ll defend our land,” Qassem underscored.
“There will be no Lebanon left if its south is lost, you are all responsible to unite and salvage our country,” Hezbollah leader underscored.
MNA