Hezbollah demands Israel leave Lebanon ‘unconditionally’ as US talks extend

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has demanded that Israel must pull its troops completely out of Lebanon “unconditionally”. Qassem delivered the remarks in a televised address on Friday, on the Muslim holy day of Ashura, and as the latest round of United States-mediated ceasefire talks between Lebanon and Israel was extended in a bid to reach an agreement. Recommended Stories list of 3 items end of list The demand comes as Israeli troops remain positioned deep inside southern Lebanon. Israeli officials insist they will stay in Lebanon , despite Iran saying Israel is obliged to withdraw under the terms of the interim US-Iran ceasefire agreement that also covers Lebanon. Qassem described the US-Iran agreement as an “official declaration of defeat” for the US and Israel. “Israel has no option but to withdraw completely from every inch of our Lebanese land,” he said. “Israel must leave unconditionally.” While Israeli attacks in Lebanon have declined since the renewed ceasefire with Hezbollah started last week, they have not stopped . On Friday morning, an Israeli air raid hit the town of Nabatieh al-Fawqa, while two people were reported killed by an earlier Israeli raid in the town of Mayfadoun. Israeli forces later dropped leaflets over the southern town of Mansouri, demanding residents leave, according to Lebanese state media. …