Hezbollah’s Secretary-General, Naim Qassem has declared “divine victory” after months of cross-border attacks and fighting with Israeli forces, saying it is bigger than the one in 2006 when Hezbollah went to war with Israel for 34 days.
This came as he delivered a televised address, the first since a ceasefire with Israel came into effect two days ago.
Qassem also described Israel’s losses as “massive” and said that thousands in Israel have been displaced from towns near the border with Lebanon.
He said that Hezbollah “approved” the ceasefire and coordination between Hezbollah and the Lebanese army will be carried out on a “high level” to ensure implementation of the agreement.
Howeverm, he warned Hezbollah is prepared “for war” if Israel attacks.
Qassem said that Israeli soldiers suffered a lot of losses as “many were killed and wounded” in battles with Hezbollah.
He said that plans put forward by the group’s slain chief Hassan Nasrallah proved to be agile, effective and took into account various “developments.”
Qassem also stated that Israeli forces killed and displaced thousands of people, but failed to succeed among the “steadfast” Lebanese population that “stunned the world and instilled fear in the Israeli army.”
He said that he hopes a President will be elected in a parliamentary session on January 9, 2025.
Hezbollah’s Qassem Pays Tribute To Group’s Slain Leaders
He paid tribute to several of Hezbollah’s leaders killed in Israeli attacks since mid-September, among them the group’s former secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine, who had been widely expected to take over the leadership.
Qassem also acknowledged those killed among the Lebanese armed forces, as well as members of the civil defence and medical teams who worked “in the battlefield.”
He congratulated the Lebanese people on the thousands of “martyrs” and said the group’s support for Palestine “will not stop”.
The liberation of Palestine, he said, is “a goal that can be achieved in various ways.”
Qassem reiterated that the militant group “maintains its right to self-defence.”
More to come…
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