Hizbullah-Affiliated Academic Sadek Al-Naboulsi: We Have Not Been Defeated – The Killing Of Our Leaders Is Key To Greater Victory

Hizbullah-affiliated academic Sadek Al-Naboulsi stated in a February 18, 2025, interview on Tafasil on YouTube that Hizbullah has not been defeated in the war and remains "strong and active." He explained that Hizbullah's notion of victory differs from others, and they do not view the destruction of their homes or the deaths of their leaders as a defeat. On the contrary, Al-Naboulsi explained that the killing of Hizbullah's leaders is seen as a "key to the greater victory." He emphasized that Hizbullah will not surrender its weapons as long as Israel exists. Al-Naboulsi also confirmed that weapons have continued to reach Hizbullah even after the fall of the Assad regime.

It is worth noting that Al-Naboulsi's brother had served as Hizbullah's spokesman during the war before being killed by Israel.

Sadek Al-Naboulsi: "If we win, we win, and if we are martyred, we also win. Our notion of victory is different from that of the others, who consider the material crushing of the [enemy] to be the victory.

[...]

"It cannot be claimed that Hizbullah lost and was defeated. On the contrary, Hizbullah is still strong and active..."

Interviewer: "But can you say that Hizbullah won?"

Al-Naboulsi: "Hizbullah was not broken. It was not broken, but it did not win either... According to our faith, we are always victorious."

Interviewer: "But I am talking about the reality today..."

Al-Naboulsi: "Some people think that the enemy's capability to destroy is the only criterion for victory. I say that the enemy's destruction of our homes and the killing of our leaders is not the only criterion for victory. On the contrary, we consider the fall of our leaders to be a passage to victory, and a key to the greater victory. On the personal level, all those who were martyred won.

[...]

"Hizbullah will not hand over its weapons so long as Israel exists."

Interviewer: "So how come..."

Al-Naboulsi: "They can forget it."

Interviewer: "What do you mean by 'forget it?' So why did you sign the ceasefire agreement, which talks about the sovereignty of the Lebanese government on all the land?"

Al-Naboulsi: "If Hizbullah hands over its weapons, this will allow for the slaughter of all the people of south Lebanon, if not all the free and honorable people in this country.

[...]

"The money reaches [Hizbullah] in various ways... not through the Beirut Airport, people can calm down..."

Interviewer: "So how?"

Al-Naboulsi: "It gets [to Hizbullah]. How? I don't know."

Interviewer: "By land? Not through vital services like the airport or the seaport?"

Al-Naboulsi: "People who can get accurate weapons to Lebanon, can get money here as well. Money is easier."

Interviewer: "You can still bring accurate weapons?"

Al-Naboulsi: "There are weapons that arrived here."

Interviewer: "Now? After the fall of the Assad regime?"

Al-Naboulsi: "Yes. Some weapons have arrived."