BEIRUT: Hezbollah deputy chief Naim Qassem on Tuesday said that the Lebanese group supported Lebanon’s efforts for a ceasefire with Israel, after two weeks of heavy Israeli strikes that killed its leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut beside thousands of others.
“We support the political efforts that (Lebanese Parliament Speaker) Nabih Berri is undertaking towards a ceasefire,” Qassem said in a televised speech on Tuesday.
Since September 23, Israel has ramped up its bombing campaign in Lebanon following nearly a year of cross-border clashes with Hezbollah. The Israeli airstrikes have killed more than 1,100 people and displaced over a million in Lebanon, according to official figures. Hezbollah’s long-time leader, Nasrallah, was killed in a massive Israeli airstrike on September 27 in Beirut’s southern suburbs.
Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Berri, a prominent ally of Hezbollah, have been working toward an immediate truce, independent of broader ceasefire negotiations related to the Gaza conflict.
However, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has indicated Tehran’s preference for a simultaneous ceasefire in both Lebanon and the Palestinian territories.
Qassem, who has assumed leadership of Hezbollah until a new secretary-general is announced, reassured supporters that the Lebanese group’s military capabilities and leadership structure remain intact despite the heavy bombardment.
“The party’s leadership and the resistance are meticulously organized… We have overcome painful blows,” he said, adding that Hezbollah still possesses “hundreds of rockets” to deploy against Israel.
The ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel has mirrored the fighting in Gaza, with Hezbollah framing its actions as a show of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stressed securing Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, Qassem warned that more Israeli residents could be forced to flee.
“Netanyahu says he wants to bring back the displaced to their homes in northern Israel,” Qassem said. “But we say that many more residents will be forced to flee.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that any Israeli attack on Iranian infrastructure, particularly nuclear or oil sites, would result in a strong retaliation. This comes in response to growing concerns that Israel may target Iranian facilities following Tehran’s missile attack on October 1, 2023, which marked the second strike by Iran in six months.
Abbas Araghchi emphasized that any attack on Iranian infrastructure would provoke a more forceful response from Tehran.
Iran also warned that an attack on its nuclear sites would cross a “red line.” Iran insists its nuclear program is entirely peaceful, although its recent increase in uranium enrichment to 60% has raised international concerns.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military claimed that they killed a senior Hezbollah commander in another strike on Lebanon’s Beirut.
According to local media, the Israeli army has repeatedly struck inside Beirut in recent weeks, as tensions between Hezbollah and Israel have escalated. The attack reportedly killed Suhail Hussein Husseini.
However, on the other hand, Hezbollah declined to comment on the claim.
The strikes come following Israeli troops repeatedly targeting Lebanon, killing several high-ranking leaders including Hassan Nasrallah.
Hezbollah has said that they have already replaced their slain leaders, and pledged to keep fighting against Israel until a truce in the Gaza Strip has been achieved.
Last week, Israel launched a ground intrusion into southern Lebanon in what officials fear is an escalation of the conflict which has dragged on between Hezbollah’s ally, Hamas and Israel, for one year.
