Hezbollah Leader Warns Israel of Missile Strikes

Hezbollah Leader Warns Israel of Missile Strikes
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Naim Qassem, the deputy leader of Hezbollah, issued a direct threat to Israel, stating that if a full-scale war on Lebanon resumes, missiles would fall on Israel, Muslim Mirror reported. The warning came as Lebanon’s cabinet met to discuss a plan to disarm the Iran-backed group, a move that is being pushed by the United States.

In a televised speech, Qassem said that should Israel engage in “large-scale aggression” against Lebanon, Hezbollah, the Lebanese army, and the Lebanese people would defend the country. He claimed that this defense would lead to missiles striking inside Israel and that the security Israel has established over the past eight months “will collapse within an hour.”

Qassem’s remarks were made as Lebanon’s cabinet was discussing a U.S. roadmap for Hezbollah’s disarmament in exchange for a halt to Israeli strikes, a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from five strategic hills in southern Lebanon, and funds for reconstruction. Hezbollah has been weakened by a 14-month war that ended in a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in November, but Qassem stated the group remains ready to make “the harshest sacrifices.” He also rejected any timetable for disarmament, saying that Israel must first implement the ceasefire in full.