Hezbollah Vows to Fight On Despite Leader’s Death, Threatens Israel with Ground War

 Hezbollah’s deputy chief, Sheikh Naim Qassem, has pledged that the Lebanese armed group is ready to meet an Israeli ground offensive, despite the death of its leader Hassan Nasrallah and numerous senior commanders, Al Jazeera reports.

In a defiant public address on Monday, Qassem declared that Hezbollah’s operations continue unabated and that the group will soon install a new leadership.

“We are quite ready, if the Israelis want a ground incursion, the resistance forces are ready for that,” Qassem said.

He accused Israel of committing “massacres” against Lebanese civilians, saying that Israel targets civilians, ambulances, and children instead of focusing on fighters.

Hezbollah has faced setbacks during the recent bombardment of Lebanon, but Qassem insists that the group will continue to fight. He attributes Israel’s aggression to its desire to create chaos and destroy Lebanon.

“Israel is committing massacres in all areas of Lebanon until there is no house left without traces of Israeli aggression in it,” Qassem said.

The group’s resolve is echoed by its Iranian backer, which has signaled its willingness to support Hezbollah but has ruled out direct military intervention.

The escalation of the conflict has raised fears of a wider regional war, with Israel increasingly focused on Hezbollah after its offensive against Hamas in Gaza. The Israeli offensive has already inflicted significant damage on Lebanon, resulting in over 1,000 deaths in the past two weeks.

On Monday, Israel extended its attacks to the heart of Beirut, signaling a potential shift towards an all-out war. Meanwhile, Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, called for an immediate ceasefire and expressed willingness to deploy the army in the south of the country to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701. This resolution aims to prevent war with Israel by ending Hezbollah’s armed presence south of the Litani River.