Naim Qassem
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Qassem: No Withdrawal from Syria before Political Solution

Hizbullah will not withdraw its fighters from neighboring Syria before a “political solution” is reached for the war-torn country, Hizbullah's deputy chief has said.

“The withdrawal of Hizbullah's forces is linked to the political solution in Syria and to the eradication of terrorism,” Sheikh Naim Qassem told France 24 television.

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Qassem Says President Election 'Victory for Lebanon', Hails Aoun's Oath of Office

Hizbullah deputy chief Sheikh Naim Qassem announced Tuesday that the election of a president after two and a half years of vacuum is a “victory for Lebanon,” as he hailed President Michel Aoun's oath of office as “patriotic and pro-independence par excellence.”

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Qassem: No One Can Monopolize Power, Taef Accord Still Valid

Hizbullah deputy chief Sheikh Naim Qassem stressed Friday that no Lebanese party has the ability to “monopolize power” in the country, noting that the 1989 Taef Accord is still valid for running the country's affairs.

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Yaalon Warns Israel Won't Tolerate Transfer of Advanced Weapons to Hizbullah

Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon has warned that Israel will not tolerate advanced weapons reaching Hizbullah, which has fought alongside Syrian troops.

“Those who try to violate our sovereignty – we will strike them, and those who try to transfer advanced weapons to terror elements, with an emphasis on Hizbullah, we will strike them, and those who try to transfer chemical weapons to terror elements, we will strike them,” Yaalon said on Tuesday during a visit to Gaza-border communities.

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Qassem Tells Pro-Suleiman Minister Appointments Key to Agreeing on Govt. Mechanism

Hizbullah deputy chief Sheikh Naim Qassem held talks Monday at his office with Sports and Youth Minister Abdul Mutalleb Hennawi, who is close to former President Michel Suleiman.

“The normal course for resolving the dispute over the cabinet's work mechanism would be addressing the root of the problem, which is the military appointments,” said Qassem during the meeting.

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Mustaqbal Slams Hizbullah and Aoun's 'Suicidal, Irresponsible Policies'

Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc lashed out on Tuesday at Hizbullah and Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun, accusing them of implementing “suicidal, irresponsible policies.”

“The policy adopted by Hizbullah and its allies -- through their insistence on imposing a sole (presidential) candidate claiming exclusive representation of an entire sect – is a suicidal, irresponsible policy that might lead to Lebanon's destruction,” the bloc warned in a statement issued after its weekly meeting.

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Mashnouq Responding to Qassem: He Wants to Destroy Arsal, Not Liberate it

Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq criticized on Sunday the recent remarks of Hizbullah deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem on “liberating” the northeastern border town of Arsal, saying that the army should be responsible for such a mission, reported the daily al-Mustaqbal.

He told the daily: “Qassem is calling for the destruction of Arsal, not its liberation.”

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Qassem Says Saudi Arabia Made 'Strategic Mistake' in Yemen, Denies Aiding Huthis

Hizbullah deputy leader Sheikh Naim Qassem directed a barrage of criticism at Saudi Arabia on Monday, accusing the kingdom of committing genocide with its airstrike campaign targeting Yemen's Shiite rebels and warning it will "pay a heavy price" for its involvement.

In a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press, Qassem, said Saudi Arabia made a "strategic mistake" by interfering in Yemen's internal affairs.

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Qassem Slams 'Instigators', Says Dialogue with Mustaqbal to Continue

Hizbullah on Sunday lashed out anew at “those who don't want dialogue” between the party and al-Mustaqbal movement, blasting them as “instigators and rabble-rousers," as it called for speeding up efforts aimed at securing the election of a new president.

“We know that dialogue can only succeed if both parties want it and this is the case now. Some voices have rejected dialogue and they have become well-known,” Hizbullah deputy chief Sheikh Naim Qassem said.

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Qassem Says Israeli Raid in Quneitra 'Direct' Assault against Hizbullah

Hizbullah deputy leader Sheikh Naim Qassem stressed on Sunday that the Israeli airstrike in Syria's Quneitra is a direct assault against the party.

“There are huge similarities between the Israelis and the takfiri groups,” Qassem said during a popular rally to mourn the party fighters who were killed the raid last week.

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