Hezbollah Uses U.S. Withdrawal from Yemen as Proof of Resistance Power
Executive Summary
Hezbollah’s Deputy Secretary-General Sheikh Naeem Qassem has hailed the recent U.S. withdrawal from its Yemen campaign as a pivotal moment for the “axis of resistance,” calling it evidence that American and Israeli power is crumbling under the pressure of popular armed movements. In a fiery speech on Resistance and Liberation Day, Qassem argued that this perceived American capitulation proves the strategic effectiveness of resistance operations—not only in defending Palestine, but in reshaping regional dynamics and bolstering the legitimacy of Hezbollah’s military doctrine.
Analysis
On May 25, 2025, Sheikh Naeem Qassem used the anniversary of Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000 to deliver a speech casting recent U.S. and Israeli military setbacks as watershed victories for the anti-Israel resistance front. Central to his message was the assertion that the U.S. decision to halt airstrikes in Yemen—following mounting drone losses, escalating costs, and Houthi missile strikes on Tel Aviv—represents a broader collapse in Western strategic influence.
Qassem claimed that Yemen’s resilience “forced America to withdraw” and demonstrated that U.S. military dominance could be outmaneuvered by persistent, unconventional resistance. His remarks reflected the wider narrative that resistance, not diplomacy, achieves tangible gains. He emphasized that Lebanon’s transformation from “a state of weakness to one of power” was due to decades of Hezbollah’s armed struggle and strategic deterrence, not state institutions or external support.
Hezbollah’s framing dovetails with events on the ground. The U.S. ceased its Yemen campaign after nearly two months of intensive airstrikes that failed to neutralize Houthi capabilities. As reported by The New York Times, Pentagon officials warned President Trump that continued operations would risk American aircrew and further strain U.S. munitions stockpiles. The Houthis, in turn, claimed a symbolic victory and pledged to continue strikes against Israel.
While Trump framed the ceasefire as a mutual agreement, and Oman facilitated indirect negotiations, skepticism remained high. Houthi officials signaled that their operations tied to Gaza would persist until a broader ceasefire was achieved. Iran’s role in guiding the Houthis’ temporary de-escalation was also highlighted by regional analysts, suggesting the U.S. exit may be tactical rather than permanent.
Still, Hezbollah seized the moment to reinforce its core ideological tenets. Qassem credited the “blood of martyrs,” the founding leadership of the movement, and decades of steadfastness as the foundation of regional resistance. He asserted that Israel’s military “prestige” had been shattered not only in Lebanon, but also by events in Gaza and Yemen. The overarching theme: resistance is not only morally justified—it is strategically victorious.
Qassem also reframed military restraint as part of the resistance’s strength, describing it as “deterrence, steadfastness, patience, and readiness.” He closed his speech with uncompromising rhetoric, declaring that Hezbollah would not “submit or back down” and warning Israel to dismantle its border presence or face consequences.
His messaging is clear: every perceived failure of the U.S. or Israel bolsters Hezbollah’s vision of an inevitable collapse of Zionist power and Western dominance. The American exit from Yemen, regardless of its internal logic, has become a powerful propaganda tool in the regional resistance narrative.
