The weapons of the Resistance are needed today more than ever

Lebanese Analyst in an Interview with TNA

Therefore, he said, the nations of the region must stand together and confront these ambitions collectively.

Fadi Boudaya, an international affairs analyst and director of the Miraya International Network in Lebanon, responded to questions regarding Hezbollah’s capabilities—especially after the recent Awli al‑Ba’s battle between the Resistance and the Zionist regime, and the martyrdom of many of its leaders, foremost among them the “Master of the Martyrs of the Ummah,” Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah.

He stated: “Without doubt, the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon suffered major and painful blows. Yet today it has regained control of the situation, restored its strength and capabilities, and reaffirmed its presence on the battlefield.”
He added that those who believe Hezbollah’s role has ended are mistaken: “Hezbollah remains the largest popular, political, military, and cultural movement in Lebanon. It also possesses the largest scouting organization in the world—the Imam Mahdi Scouts.”
Boudaya continued: “Anyone claiming Hezbollah’s role is over should look at the continuous visits of foreign officials to Lebanon. If Hezbollah were finished, why would these officials come? Why does the United States, through all its mediators, insist on disarming the Resistance and eliminating Hezbollah’s ideology?”
He stressed that skeptics should carefully read Israeli reports acknowledging the Zionist regime’s humiliating failure to suppress Hezbollah or destroy the Resistance.
Regarding Hezbollah’s restraint in the face of ongoing Israeli violations and repeated breaches of the ceasefire, Boudaya said: “The Resistance’s restraint strengthens the diplomatic opportunities the Lebanese government seeks. The ceasefire agreement was signed by the Lebanese government only after consultation with—and approval from—the Resistance.”
He emphasized that while the Resistance has adhered to the ceasefire, the Zionist regime has never respected it.
Boudaya attributed the continued violations to the failure of mediators—first the United States, then France—to enforce the agreement. He noted that Lebanon remains committed to diplomatic solutions, and the Resistance has agreed to this approach despite daily Israeli aggression.
He warned, however: “The Resistance will not tolerate these violations indefinitely. A point will come when it declares that waiting is no longer useful.”
Boudaya explained that while the timing of such a shift cannot be predicted, the Resistance may eventually adopt a stance of conditional adherence—remaining committed to the ceasefire only to the extent that the Zionist regime does.
Regarding the future of the Resistance’s weapons amid U.S., European, Arab, and domestic pressures calling for exclusive state control of arms, Boudaya stated: “Today, the weapons of the Resistance are needed more than ever—to deter the Zionist regime and defend Lebanon’s sovereignty.”
He stressed that anyone who believes the Zionist regime would target only one sect if it invaded Lebanon is gravely mistaken: “Has Israel ever spared any Arab people from its aggression? Never. Its colonial ambitions threaten all nations of the region. Therefore, the peoples of the region must unite to confront these ambitions.”
Boudaya added that no resistance movement achieves victory overnight: “Resistance is a long-term project passed from one generation to the next. How long did France take to free itself from Nazi Germany? How long did Cuba or Vietnam take? Resistance is continuous.”
He drew parallels with the Islamic Revolution in Iran: “The movement begun by Imam Khomeini grew rapidly because it was rooted in the pursuit of justice. Anything done for God grows. The blood of martyrs, when poured into the hands of God, flourishes.”
He described how Lebanese society has transformed: “In the past, young fighters hid their involvement from their families. Today, mothers send their sons to the battlefield and scatter rice on their coffins. Fathers take pride in being fathers of martyrs. This awareness and culture were nurtured by sincere leaders—from Imam Musa al‑Sadr to Sayyid Hassan and others.”
Boudaya expressed pride in Iran’s support for Lebanon: “Iran helped transform Lebanon from a country occupied by Israel’s military band into a nation that liberated its land from the strongest force in the Middle East. Iran deserves immense gratitude for its unwavering support.”
Regarding the possibility of an Israeli attack on Iran, he said three factors terrify Israel and the United States:

1. Iran’s nuclear program, which—despite being declared peaceful—Israel fears because it does not want any regional power to match it.
   Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities, proven effective in the 12‑day war, reaching all Israeli settlements and forcing settlers into shelters.
   Iran’s support for regional resistance movements, including non‑Shia groups such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad, as well as its past support for Bosnia and Afghanistan.

He argued that these three pillars undermine Israel’s regional project.
Boudaya concluded by asserting that Israel, as an artificial entity, cannot withstand a major regional conflict: “Its people do not belong to this land and will flee to Europe when danger rises. Such a society cannot be compared to nations like Iran, or the Resistance in Lebanon, Iraq, or Yemen—peoples willing to sacrifice everything for their homeland. The equation is fundamentally unbalanced.”