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Gaza ceasefire only way for Israel to return residents to its north: Hezbollah
Naim Qassem, deputy secretary-general of Lebanon’s Hezbollah, made the remarks during a ceremony for slain fighter Hani Ezzedine, according to Lebanon’s National News agency.
“The support front in Lebanon will continue as long as the war in Gaza continues, and the pace of this support increases as Israel increases its aggression, especially when it targets civilians,” he was quoted as saying.
“There is no way for the settlers in the north to return except by stopping the war on Gaza.”
Qassem said Israel threatens war against Lebanon but the conflict would only increase the displacement from northern Israel, the report said.
Residents have been evacuated from northern Israel and southern Lebanon due to the near-daily exchange of fire across the border between Hezbollah and Israel since October 8, the day after the war in Gaza began.
Hezbollah warns ‘large losses on both sides’ if Israel attacks Lebanon
Hezbollah’s second-in-command warns a full-scale war launched by Israel aimed at returning 100,000 displaced people to their homes near Lebanon’s border would instead displace “hundreds of thousands” more.
In a speech in Beirut, Naim Qassem said: “We have no intention of going to war as we consider that this would not be useful. However, if Israel does unleash a war, we will face up to it – and there will be large losses on both sides.
“If they think such a war would allow the 100,000 displaced people to return home, … we issue this warning: Prepare to deal with hundreds of thousands more displaced.”
The comments come after Defence Minister Yoav Gallant recently said Israel is determined to restore “security” to its northern front and “we are preparing for anything that may happen.”
Israeli air force bombs Lebanon’s Bekaa and Baalbek areas
Israeli fighter jets continue to pound southern Lebanon with the latest strikes over the past hour on the Bekaa and Baalbek regions.
“In addition, warplanes attacked military depots and a military structure of the Hezbollah terrorist organization in seven different areas in southern Lebanon,” the military said in a statement.
Three children were among four people wounded in Bekaa’s Hermel district, 140km (85 miles) from the Israeli border, Lebanon’s Public Health Ministry said.
On October 8, Hezbollah began launching attacks on Israel in solidarity with the Palestinian people in Gaza as Israel waged war on the enclave. Israel has carried out nearly four times more attacks than Hezbollah, tallying more than 7,800 strikes along the 120km (75-mile) border.
