BEIRUT, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem said Friday that the group has prepared for a "long confrontation" with Israel and will not retreat, describing the current conflict as an existential battle.
"We have prepared ourselves for a long confrontation, and they will be surprised on the battlefield," Qassem said in a televised speech on al-Manar TV.
Qassem said Hezbollah's involvement in the fighting at this stage aims to weaken Israel's position and "to reach a better agreement."
He said the group is engaged in a "legitimate defensive battle" in Lebanon against what he called brutal aggression that poses an existential threat.
Qassem added that Hezbollah fighters are not deterred by Israeli threats, warning that Israel would see the group's strength on the battlefield.
The Hezbollah leader also called on Lebanese officials to take stronger positions against Israel. He dismissed Israel's threats of assassination against him, saying such warnings carry "no value."
Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have escalated sharply since the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran began on Feb. 28. On March 2, Hezbollah launched rockets from Lebanon toward Israel for the first time since a ceasefire was declared on Nov. 27, 2024. Israel responded with a military campaign against Hezbollah, conducting intense airstrikes on Lebanon and ground incursions along the border. ■
