Hezbollah’s deputy chief and acting leader, Sheikh Naim Qassem, made a series of statements addressing the ongoing conflict with Israel. Speaking in Arabic, he outlined Hezbollah’s new approach, describing it as the “equation of hurting the enemy,” with missiles and drones reaching Tel Aviv, as former leader Hassan Nasrallah had envisioned. He emphasised that since Israel is targeting all of Lebanon, Hezbollah reserves the right to strike any point in Israel, whether in the middle, west, or south.Qassem also stressed Hezbollah’s focus on targeting the Israeli army, military centres and civilian areas, declaring that they are not seeking a ceasefire out of weakness. He warned that as the war continues, the number of uninhabited settlements will rise, putting millions at risk. Referring to the recent violence, he questioned the root cause, asking why the “Al-Aqsa flood” happened, pointing to Israel’s long-standing occupation as the source of the conflict. He affirmed that Lebanon cannot be separated from Palestine, nor Palestine from the world.
