Qassem says priority for halting aggression, calls for equipping army

Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem has said that his party wants Lebanon to be "sovereign, free, independent and capable."

"We want it to be sovereign in extending its sovereignty across Lebanese territory, especially on the land of the South," Qassem said in a speech commemorating slain Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani.

Calling for "strong army," Qassem urged "dialogue and consensus" as well as "national unity in the face of enemies."

He added that the priority should be for "halting the aggression, Israel's withdrawal, returning the captives, and reconstruction, after which we would discuss the national (security) strategy."

"We call for equipping the Lebanese Army to enable it to be an army for the country that protects against enemies, in addition to the other tasks it is doing in the face of drug and theft gangs, all spies and those who tamper with the country's security," Qassem went on to say.