BEIRUT- The announcement that Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi had approved new plans to expand the ground invasion of southern Lebanon coincided with reports from inside Israel that Washington and Tel Aviv have agreed on a formula for a “settlement” in which the interests of Israel are ensured at the expense of Lebanon and its sovereignty.

To discuss the issue, the Tehran Times exclusively interviews Dr. Bilal Al-Laqisthe, an expert in geopolitical affairs.

Following is the text of the interview:

A month and a half after the Israeli aggression on Lebanon, what helped Hezbollah to withstand despite suffering harsh tribulations?

The most important factors that have helped Hezbollah to withstand, and perhaps the chief factors, I almost say, are faith, readiness, and commitment to the spirit of Wilayah (guardianship). These three foundations have enabled the resistance to move from receiving blows to taking the initiative and regaining momentum.

Wilayah, according to Hezbollah’s belief, is the guarantee for any group or movement that seeks to transform a threat, no matter how severe, into an opportunity, and create a breakthrough and a chance for hope. 

Do you think Hezbollah’s strategy of “hurting the enemy” will work to shorten the war?

Definitely. Tactic is one of the most important, prominent and first factors in shortening the war, because the Zionists are accustomed to occupying what is around them, and if there is no one to resist and repel them, they will complete their expansionist project and even realize their goals. What we are witnessing today is the beginning of a decline in the wishes of the enemy and a retreat from its previously proposed goals that were almost imaginary, as it began to sense its failure on the ground.

What about the negotiations? To what extent are they serious? And, why do you think they failed?

Currently, there are no negotiations or serious diplomatic efforts; rather attempts to pressure Lebanon to admit it were defeated. This is far from reality. There will be no serious negotiations until the magic turns on the magician, and we are witnessing how Hezbollah is gradually regaining the initiative. I expect that in the coming days we will approach the path of serious diplomacy with an emphasis on the clear and unwavering policy of the resistance (movement), especially with regard to UN Resolution 1701, as Hezbollah rejects any compromise on sovereign rights. We believe the Israeli side will ultimately back down and stop the hostilities.

What will follow the November 5 US elections? Has the deep state in Washington been convinced that its proxy, Israel, has failed?

As it is becoming clear, the crimes of genocide and destruction are the most that the enemy can achieve. However, they do not positively serve its interests, neither politically nor militarily, so we notice its bet on an active role for Trump to get it (Israel) out of Gaza and the Lebanon quagmire and determine the features of the next stage, i.e. the day after the war, taking into account that the Americans, from our point of view, will fail, as it failed after the liberation of the south in 2000, to impose conditions in favor of the Zionist entity.

What about the countries that have normalized ties with Israel? Have they, in turn, become convinced of the futility of normalization with the occupation regime?

In fact, Israel’s inability to achieve any advance in the ground offensive has weakened its position, regionally and internationally, and placed it in the category of exposed and threatened countries. This failure has embarrassed the countries that have normalized ties with Israel. Hence, I assume that they will gradually begin to distance themselves from it as the occupation entity has proven that it is even unable to protect itself.

What are the prospects for the current war?

The Zionist entity has exhausted all its operational goals without achieving anything essential in terms of security politics. The occupation is today stuck in a dead-end and unable to transform killing and destruction into an achievement. It is currently immersed in a cycle of open violence and endless fighting.

Instead, the Axis of Resistance is determined to support the Palestinian cause and the Palestinian people.  It also rejects any conditions that affect the sovereignty of any of its countries. In the future, it (the Axis of Resistance) is moving towards expanding the scope of its cooperation with many countries in the region as it has been proven that we have no bright future without rapprochement and liberation from the hegemony of the US and the Zionist entity.