Naim Qassem declares ‘divine victory’ in televised address
Hezbollah’s secretary-general has been speaking in a televised address, the first since a ceasefire with Israel came into effect two days ago.
Naim Qassem declared “divine victory” after months of cross-border attacks and fighting with Israeli forces, saying it is bigger than the one in 2006 when Hezbollah went to war with Israel for 34 days.
Qassem also described Israel’s losses as “massive” and said thousands in Israel have been displaced from towns near the border with Lebanon.
He said Hezbollah “approved” the ceasefire and coordination between Hezbollah and the Lebanese army will be carried out on a “high level” to ensure implementation of the agreement. But he warned Hezbollah is prepared “for war” if Israel attacks.
Qassem said Israeli soldiers suffered a lot of losses as “many were killed and wounded” in battles with Hezbollah.
He said plans put forward by the group’s slain chief Hassan Nasrallah proved to be agile, effective and took into account various “developments”.
Israeli forces killed and displaced thousands of people, but failed to succeed among the “steadfast” Lebanese population that “stunned the world and instilled fear in the Israeli army”, Qassem said.
He said he hopes a president will be elected in a parliamentary session on January 9.
Kill one delusional leader, the next one, even more delusional, steps right up. If you call Israel's losses massive, then what would you call the situation in Lebanon... Over 3,600 dead, entire towns destroyed, divine victory.
You don't stop religious nutters with violence, you need to take away their support. Offer people a better alternative. Yet Israel makes sure the Lebanese government stays weak, allowing Hezbollah to grow.
Hezbollah’s Qassem pays tribute to group’s slain leaders
Hezbollah’s chief Naim Qassem reiterated the group “maintains its right to self-defence”.
He paid tribute to several of Hezbollah’s leaders killed in Israeli attacks since mid-September, among them the group’s former Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine, who had been widely expected to take over the leadership.
Qassem also acknowledged those killed among the Lebanese armed forces, as well as members of the civil defence and medical teams who worked “in the battlefield”.
He congratulated the Lebanese people on the thousands of “martyrs” and said the group’s support for Palestine “will not stop”. The liberation of Palestine, he said, is “a goal that can be achieved in various ways”.
Not in a military way, that much is clear.
Several Israeli ceasefire violations
There have been several breaches from Israel of the ceasefire in different Lebanese villages and towns on the border. There’s been gunshots towards civilians. There’s been artillery bombardment. There’s been Merkava tanks launching shells on several areas.
There’s been several violations, and Israel is trying to prevent people from getting to their villages, trying to set restrictions and curfews.
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