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Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has rejected a US-brokered security agreement between Lebanon and Israel, calling it a "surrender" and demanding that Israel withdraw unconditionally from all Lebanese territory Source: CNA, Al Jazeera. The rejection came as US-mediated talks in Washington were extended in a bid to reach a ceasefire Source: Al Jazeera.
In a televised address on Friday, Qassem insisted that Israel has "no option" but to leave every inch of Lebanese land "unconditionally" and rejected any normalisation of ties Source: Ground News, Al Jazeera. He described the US-Iran interim agreement, which Israel claims obligates it to withdraw, as an "official declaration of defeat" for the US and Israel Source: Al Jazeera. Meanwhile, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz reiterated that there are no plans to leave southern Lebanon Source: Al Jazeera video.
Despite a renewed ceasefire, Israeli attacks have not stopped. On Friday, an air raid hit Nabatieh al-Fawqa, and two people were killed in Mayfadoun Source: Al Jazeera. Israeli forces also dropped leaflets ordering residents to leave the town of Mansouri Source: Al Jazeera. Israel reported four soldiers injured in fighting with Hezbollah in Beit Yahoun Source: Al Jazeera. Israel conditions any withdrawal on Hezbollah's full disarmament, while Lebanon's army says no Israeli pullback has occurred .
“Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem rejected a US-brokered security agreement between Lebanon and Israel on Saturday (Jun 27) a day after it was signed, describing it as a surrender to Israel.”
“Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem on Friday said Israel has 'no option' but to unconditionally withdraw from Lebanese areas it occupies.”
“Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has demanded that Israel must pull its troops completely out of Lebanon 'unconditionally'.”
“Qassem described the US-Iran agreement as an 'official declaration of defeat' for the US and Israel.”
Netanyahu Announces Partial Withdrawal from Southern Lebanon Amid Vows to Remain