Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Mohammad Qassem said it was impossible for Israel to try to achieve through the agreement what it could not achieve on the battlefield. Qassem said that while he allowed the ceasefire talks to continue, the war continued.
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem made his third speech after being appointed as leader. In response to the killing of Hezbollah’s media chief Mohammed Afif in an Israeli attack, Qassem announced that Israel would retaliate by targeting Tel Aviv. Qassem stressed that Israel must pay a “heavy price” for Afif’s assassination.
Qassem stated that the US had examined the ceasefire proposal with Israel and submitted its response through the mediation of Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. Qassem stated that the ball was now in Israel’s court and that they were committed to two main principles regarding the ceasefire: the complete cessation of hostilities and the preservation of Lebanon’s sovereignty.
Qassem said they allowed the ceasefire talks to continue, adding, “Israel believed that through the agreement it could achieve what it could not achieve on the battlefield, but this is impossible.” Qassem explained that they have the means to continue to engage in a long war of attrition with the Israeli forces and that Hezbollah is ready to pay any price for this. Qassem said, “When the enemy cannot achieve its goals, it means we have won.”
According to Reuters, Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Mohammad Qassem rejected the notion that Israel would be able to keep striking Hezbollah even after a truce is reached, saying that Israel should not be allowed to breach Lebanon’s sovereignty.
Qassem said that the ceasefire depends on the response Israel gives, and the “seriousness” of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – and that Hezbollah would keep negotiating and fighting at the same time.
Specifically, Qassem said any strikes on central Beirut would be met with Hezbollah fire on Tel Aviv. Hezbollah launched missiles at Tel Aviv on Monday, after deadly Israeli bombardments hit the heart of Beirut on both Sunday and Monday.
Referring to the political deadlock in Lebanon, Qassem said Hezbollah would act in cooperation with other political forces and contribute to the election of a new president by the parliament after the ceasefire is achieved.
According to Al-Jazeera, Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Mohammad Qassem, says that the group will keep fighting in its war with Israel until it is offered ceasefire terms it deems acceptable, as Israeli forces bombarded the ancient eastern Lebanese city of Baalbek and its outskirts following the forced evacuation orders.
“If the Israelis decide to stop the aggression, we say that we accept, but according to the conditions that we see as suitable,” Qassem said in a prerecorded televised address aired on Wednesday, his first speech since he was appointed leader.
