Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem says his group would respond to any violation by Israel, arguing that Israel will not remain in Lebanon. Speaking on Sunday, Qassem made the remarks in the context of ongoing tensions following an agreed ceasefire that takes effect on Friday. According to Israeli officials cited in the reports, Israeli troops are operating with freedom to act without restriction in Lebanon to “eliminate threats,” despite the ceasefire arrangement. The two accounts present Qassem’s stance as a warning of retaliatory readiness while also highlighting that Israel’s stated operational posture allows action targeting threats on its side. Taken together, the reports describe a situation where a ceasefire has formally begun, but both sides’ public statements indicate continued concern about violations and security enforcement. The story centers on Qassem’s comments about Israel’s long-term presence and Hezbollah’s stated response to any breaches, alongside Israel’s claims that its forces retain flexibility to address perceived threats in Lebanon.