Hezbollah’s interim leader has insisted his movement will not agree to a ceasefire until Israel withdraws from Gaza, as the Israeli Defense Forces deploy additional troops to Lebanon.
Hezbollah fired a barrage of around 180 rockets into Israel on Tuesday evening, as the terrorist group’s interim leader, Sheikh Naim Qassem, gave a speech vowing to continue fighting.
The rockets fired hit the northern Israeli port city of Haifa, injuring a woman and prompting Israeli authorities to ask residents in the northern part of the city to stay indoors.
Sheikh Naim Qassem insisted that Hezbollah’s military capabilities remained intact despite weeks of Israeli bombing that wiped out many senior officials.
Speaking by video at an undisclosed location, Kassem said Hezbollah would soon name a new leader to replace Hassan Nasrallahwho was killed on September 27 during an Israeli strike targeted on central Beirut.
In his speech, Kassem said Hezbollah supported the efforts of Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to achieve a ceasefire.
The group later issued a statement clarifying that it would not, however, agree to a ceasefire in Lebanon without a corresponding pause in hostilities in the Gaza Strip, which is under devastating bombardment by Israeli forces. for a year.
Naïm Qassem insisted that Hezbollah’s commitment to the Palestinian people remained “unwavering”.
In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement to the Lebanese people that Hezbollah was ” weaker than it has been in years ” and insisted that Israel had killed Nasrallah’s replacement, without giving his name.
He also advised the Lebanese to “free yourself from Hezbollah”and threatened Lebanon with knowing “destruction and suffering like what we see in Gaza.”
Israel sends more troops to Lebanon
The Israeli army said it had deployed a fourth division to southern Lebanon, expanding a ground incursion launched last week.
Israel has said it will continue fighting Hezbollah until tens of thousands of Israeli residents who have been displaced by the hostilities can safely return to their homes in the country’s north.
