Qassem says no one can 'exclude' Hezbollah from political participation

Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem has accused Israel of hundreds of violations of a ceasefire, to be fully implemented by next week, and warned against testing "our patience."

His remarks came during a visit to Lebanon by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who called for Israel to end military operations and "occupation" in the south, almost two months into the ceasefire between Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel.

Guterres on Friday said U.N. peacekeepers had also found more than 100 weapons caches belonging "to Hezbollah or other armed groups."

Qassem called "on the Lebanese state to be firm in confronting violations, now numbering more than hundreds. This cannot continue," he said in a televised speech.

"We have been patient with the violations to give a chance to the Lebanese state responsible for this agreement, along with the international sponsors, but I call on you not to test our patience," Qassem said.

Under the November 27 ceasefire accord, which ended two months of all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah, the Lebanese army has 60 days to deploy alongside peacekeepers from the UNIFIL mission in south Lebanon as the Israeli army withdraws.

At the same time, Hezbollah is required to pull its forces north of the Litani River, around 30 kilometwrs (20 miles) from the border, and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure it has in the south.

Qassem's speech came as Guterres met Lebanon's new President Joseph Aoun, the former army chief who has vowed that the state would have "a monopoly" on bearing weapons.

Analysts say Hezbollah's weakening in the war with Israel allowed Lebanon's deeply divided political class to elect Aoun and to back his naming as prime minister Nawaf Salam, who was presiding judge at the International Court of Justice.

Qassem insisted Hezbollah and ally Amal's backing "is what led to the election of the president by consensus," after around two years of deadlock.

"No one can exploit the results of the aggression in domestic politics," he warned. "No one can exclude us from effective and influential political participation in the country."

After his meeting with Aoun on Saturday, Guterres expressed hope Lebanon could open "a new chapter of peace." The U.N. chief has said he is on a "visit of solidarity" with Lebanon.

French President Emmanuel Macron was also in Lebanon on Friday and said there must be "accelerated" implementation of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire.