BEIRUT — In his first public remarks since being appointed the leader of Hezbollah, Naim Kassem stated during a televised address on Wednesday that the group will persist in its conflict against Israel until they receive cease-fire terms they find favorable.
“Should the Israelis choose to cease their aggression, we are willing to accept it, but only under conditions we deem appropriate,” Kassem declared from an undisclosed location. “We will not plead for a truce, as our fighting will continue, regardless of how long it takes.”
This announcement comes at a time when international mediators are vigorously working to establish cease-fires in Lebanon and Gaza amidst rising tensions in the region.
Since the escalation of hostilities began on October 8, over 2,790 individuals have lost their lives, with 12,700 others injured in Lebanon, according to reports from the Lebanese Health Ministry. The situation deteriorated notably last month when Israeli ground forces invaded southern Lebanon following Hezbollah’s rocket attacks into Israel. Current estimates indicate that approximately 1.2 million people have been displaced in Lebanon as a result of the ongoing conflict.
Kassem, who has been a cleric and a founding member of Hezbollah, was named the group’s leader on Tuesday following the death of former leader Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli airstrike on a Beirut suburb in late September. Kassem has been Nasrallah’s deputy for over thirty years.
The recent conflict has also seen the loss of several high-ranking Hezbollah officials, including Nasrallah’s potential successor, Hashem Safieddine. These developments have occurred amid an intensified war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Kassem acknowledged that the recent losses, including the damaging explosions targeting Hezbollah members and the killing of Nasrallah, had “hurt” the organization. However, he insisted that Hezbollah managed to reorganize its ranks within just eight days after the death of its previous leader.
“Hezbollah’s capabilities remain intact and ready for a prolonged conflict,” he affirmed. He highlighted the continuous casualties among Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon since the onset of the ground invasion on October 1, alongside a Hezbollah drone strike that later targeted the residence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Fortunately, Netanyahu was unharmed in the attack.
Kassem disclosed that Hezbollah has maintained communication with Nabih Berri, the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, who acts as the main Lebanese mediator with the United States, which has been proposing various strategies to conclude the fighting.
“To date, no plan has been presented that Israel is willing to accept, which is also negotiable for us,” he mentioned.
Following the direction of their fallen leader, Kassem indicated that Hezbollah is executing strategies established by Nasrallah during the current conflict.
There was no immediate response from Israeli officials regarding Kassem’s statements. As he spoke, Israeli airstrikes targeted the eastern city of Baalbek, where residents received evacuation warnings.
The warnings also encompassed the UNESCO-recognized Roman temple complex and surrounding areas in the Bekaa Valley.
Earlier this month, an Israeli strike occurred relatively close—about 700 meters away—from the ancient citadel, which is home to some of the largest Roman temples globally.