Hezbollah chief calls Trump’s midterm defeat ‘an opportunity’

Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem hailed US President Donald Trump's recent midterm defeat as an opportunity for his Lebanon-based movement and other opponents of the US in the region. Trump's Republican Party suffered significant losses in the elections, with Democrats gaining control of Congress. The president acknowledged that the recent war launched against Iran in February played a role in his defeat.

In a live broadcast to supporters, Qassem declared that this marks a "good opportunity" and that "an earthquake has occurred in America." He emphasized that the forces confronting Iran, Lebanon, Palestine, and Yemen have been defeated, suggesting that Trump's political future may now be in jeopardy. Qassem also noted that Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faced a loss in recent elections, has been "broken" and that his political bloc fell short of the necessary 61 seats to retain power.

The Israeli president has since appointed Gadi Eisenkot to attempt forming a government. Hezbollah, once a dominant political force in Lebanon, has been weakened by two recent wars against Israel in 2023. Their involvement in the broader Middle East conflict in March further strained their position. Qassem reiterated that Hezbollah will not disarm before an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, as per a framework agreement reached in June under US mediation.