Hezbollah urges Lebanese officials to stop making 'gratuitous concessions'

Hezbollah on Friday called on Lebanese officials to stop making what it called "gratuitous concessions."

The remarks came in a message issued by the Lebanese group's Secretary-General Naim Qassem as released by Hezbollah's Al-Ahed news website.

"We will not accept a return to the previous situation, and we call on officials to stop gratuitous concessions,” said Qassem.

"Together as a state, army, people, and resistance, we protect our country, restore its sovereignty, and expel the occupier," he added, vowing to continue the "resistance" till the "last breath."

He also asserted that the Israeli army failed on the ground and also was unable to prevent "rockets, shells, and drones from reaching its settlements near and far, up to Haifa and beyond.”

Qassem's remarks came as Israel continued its airstrikes and ground offensive in southern Lebanon, launched after a cross-border attack by Hezbollah on March 2.

Earlier, a State Department official told Anadolu that the US will host direct talks between Israel and Lebanon next week as part of ongoing ceasefire negotiations.

Speaking to Anadolu, a senior Lebanese source also confirmed next week's talks, but also said the upcoming meeting is “preparatory and not a negotiation."

The expected negotiations between the parties come after US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran. While Pakistani mediators and Tehran said the truce also covered Lebanon, Washington and Tel Aviv have denied it.