The deputy leader of "Hezbollah" Naim Qassem said in a televised address that the Iran-backed group's capabilities were intact and its fighters were repelling Israeli ground incursions despite "painful blows" by Israel in recent weeks, after Israeli forces launched ground operations today in southwest Lebanon, reported Reuters and the Associated Press.
Kassem added that the group supports the efforts of its ally, Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, to achieve a ceasefire, without providing further details on the terms sought by “Hezbollah”.
According to Qassem, the conflict between "Hezbollah" and Israel is a fight over who will cry first. "Hezbollah" she will not be the first to cry, assured her deputy head.
He added that the organization's capabilities are still intact after a year of fighting.
Even more Israelis will be displaced while "Hezbollah" is expanding its rocket fire further into Israel, Qassem added in his defiant televised statement.
"We launch hundreds of missiles and dozens of drones. A large number of villages and cities are under fire from the resistance," he stressed. According to him, the top leadership of "Hezbollah" led the war and the commanders killed by Israel were replaced and all posts filled.
"Hezbollah" will name a new leader to succeed Hassan Nasrallah, "but the circumstances are difficult because of the war," Qassem added.
The regional tension caused a year ago by the attack of the Palestinian armed group "Hamas" against southern Israel led to a series of Israeli ground and air operations over Lebanon and direct Iranian attacks on Israeli military sites, Reuters recalls.