DUBAI, UAE - Sheikh Naim Qassem, Hezbollah’s newly appointed secretary-general, delivered his first public address on Wednesday, pledging continued resistance against Israel and expressing firm support for Gaza.

Qassem, who succeeded longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah, promised to carry forward his predecessor’s mission and asserted that Hezbollah would address what he described as critical regional challenges.

“We face many sacrifices ahead, but we are confident that victory will be ours,” Qassem said in the televised speech, outlining his vision for the group under his leadership. “Today, in Gaza, Lebanon, and across the region, we are facing a significant project aimed at confronting the resistance.”

Highlighting Hezbollah’s recent stance, Qassem described supporting Gaza as an obligation to counter Israel’s regional influence, which he said poses a threat to stability. “Supporting Gaza was essential to confront Israel’s threat to the entire region,” he stated, calling this effort part of a larger global endeavor.

During his speech, Qassem paid tribute to notable Hezbollah figures, including the group’s former leader Nasrallah and the late Sayyed Abbas al-Moussawi, calling his new role “a heavy responsibility” entrusted upon him by Hezbollah’s Shura Council.

“This duty is a legacy of those who came before me,” he noted.

He also honored the memory of Hashem Safieddine - a former Hezbollah senior leader who was poised to succeed Nasrallah but was killed before officially assuming the position - whom he described as a trusted ally of Nasrallah, saying, “We have lost him, but he has gained.”

Qassem addressed both Israel and the US directly. To the American ambassador in Lebanon, he said, “You will not witness the defeat of the resistance—not even in your dreams.” In response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent promise of an “absolute victory,” Qassem countered, “We promise you absolute defeat. You will not bring settlers back to the north; more of them will be displaced.”

Addressing Iran’s role, Qassem said the Islamic Republic provides support without seeking anything in return, underscoring that Hezbollah’s actions are driven by Lebanese interests. He welcomed support from any nation aligned with Hezbollah’s mission against Israel, noting no Arab state has provided arms to assist their cause.

Qassem also praised late Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, describing him as an icon of resistance whose lifelong courage deeply impacted both his comrades and his enemies. He added that Sinwar, who rose to lead Hamas’s political office, “frightened the enemy both in captivity and in freedom,” and called him a “legend of resilience.” Qassem highlighted that Sinwar’s legacy, along with that of previous leaders, would continue to inspire freedom fighters across the region.

“We must confront Israel to halt its brutality, and we will not retreat,” said Qassem, emphasizing that Hezbollah’s actions are focused on “protecting Lebanon, liberating our land, and supporting Gaza.”