Hezbollah acting leader/ Naim Kassem Hezbollah/ Nasrallah death/ Israel Hezbollah conflict/ Middle East tensions/ Newslooks/ BEIRUT/ Lebanon/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Hezbollah’s acting leader, Naim Kassem, has vowed to continue fighting Israel despite the recent Israeli airstrikes that killed leader Hassan Nasrallah and several other top commanders. Kassem stated that the group is prepared for a long battle and has already replaced key figures. Despite heavy casualties, including over 1,000 deaths in Lebanon, Hezbollah’s rocket attacks persist. Israel continues its airstrikes, as tensions remain high in the region.
Hezbollah Vows to Continue Fight After Nasrallah’s Death: Quick Looks
- Leadership Loss: Hezbollah’s acting leader, Naim Kassem, confirms the group will continue fighting after Nasrallah’s death.
- Ongoing Strikes: Israel’s airstrikes have killed Nasrallah and six other top commanders, with attacks on thousands of targets across Lebanon.
- Casualties Mount: Lebanon’s Health Ministry reports over 1,000 deaths in the conflict, many of them women and children.
- Rocket Fire Continues: Hezbollah maintains hundreds of daily rocket attacks, although most are intercepted or land in open areas.
Hezbollah’s Acting Leader Vows Continued Fight After Nasrallah’s Death
Deep Look:
Following the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli airstrike, the militant group’s acting leader, Naim Kassem, has vowed to continue the fight against Israel. In a televised address on Monday, Kassem declared that Hezbollah remains battle-ready, despite the significant loss of leadership. The death of Nasrallah, along with six other top commanders, marks one of the most significant blows to Hezbollah in its history, but Kassem stressed that replacements for the slain leaders are already in place.
Hezbollah’s New Leadership
Naim Kassem, a founding member of Hezbollah and Nasrallah’s long-time deputy, has taken over as acting leader. He will serve in this role until the group formally elects a new leader. Hashem Safieddine, Nasrallah’s cousin and the head of Hezbollah’s political bureau, is widely expected to be chosen as Nasrallah’s successor.
In his first public speech since Nasrallah’s death, Kassem reassured Hezbollah’s followers that the group’s military capabilities remain intact and that they are prepared for an extended conflict. “Israel was not able to affect our (military) capabilities,” Kassem said, emphasizing that Hezbollah had anticipated the possibility of a long war and is ready to continue.
Israeli Strikes Continue
Over the past two weeks, Israeli airstrikes have decimated Hezbollah’s leadership and infrastructure. These strikes have targeted thousands of militant positions across Lebanon, including areas in southern Beirut where Hezbollah operates. Israeli military officials have stated that they are focused on dismantling Hezbollah’s military capabilities, which they believe pose a significant threat to Israel’s security.
In a strike early Monday, Israeli jets hit a residential building in central Beirut, killing three members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a faction that has not played a major role in the current fighting between Hezbollah and Israel. The strike appears to signal that Israel is willing to target Hezbollah and its allies anywhere in Lebanon.
Additionally, Hamas confirmed on Monday that Fatah Sharif, its top commander in Lebanon, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on the Al-Buss refugee camp in the southern city of Tyre. Israel’s military confirmed that Sharif had been targeted due to his role in coordinating attacks against Israel.
Casualties in Lebanon
The conflict has had devastating consequences for Lebanon, where over 1,000 people have been killed in the past two weeks, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. The death toll includes nearly 250 women and children, highlighting the heavy civilian casualties in the ongoing Israeli airstrikes. Thousands more have been injured, and many residential areas have been reduced to rubble.
The Lebanese government has estimated that up to one million people may have been displaced by the conflict, although U.N. estimates place the figure at around 200,000. Thousands of Israelis have also been displaced due to Hezbollah’s rocket attacks, which have hit northern Israel and sent residents fleeing from their homes.
Hezbollah’s Rocket Barrages
Despite the heavy losses, Hezbollah continues to fire hundreds of rockets into northern Israel on a daily basis. Most of these rockets have been intercepted by Israel’s air defense systems or have fallen in open areas, causing relatively few casualties. However, two Israeli soldiers were killed near the border on Sept. 19, marking the deadliest day for Israel since the current phase of the conflict began.
Hezbollah’s capabilities, however, remain a subject of speculation. The group is believed to have tens of thousands of fighters and an extensive arsenal of long-range missiles capable of striking deep inside Israel. Some analysts suggest that Hezbollah may be holding back its full firepower in anticipation of a larger conflict, potentially involving an Israeli ground invasion. Others speculate that the group may be struggling to regroup after the loss of its top commanders.
International Reactions
The international community has expressed concern over the escalating conflict. Iran, Hezbollah’s main backer, has vowed a “decisive response” to Nasrallah’s death. Iranian officials accuse Israel of pushing the region closer to a wider war, while Hezbollah’s allies, including the Houthis in Yemen, have also condemned the airstrikes.
The United States and its allies have called for an immediate ceasefire, warning of the potential for a broader regional war that could draw in more countries, including Iran. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has shown little interest in halting the military campaign, which he argues is necessary to secure Israel’s borders and prevent further attacks from Hezbollah.
The Road Ahead
As the conflict continues to escalate, both Israel and Hezbollah are preparing for the possibility of a protracted war. Israel has vowed to continue its airstrikes until Hezbollah’s attacks stop, while Hezbollah has pledged to keep fighting in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
The coming weeks will likely see continued violence and destruction in Lebanon, as Hezbollah and Israel remain locked in a deadly cycle of retaliation. While Nasrallah’s death marks a significant moment in the conflict, it is clear that Hezbollah is far from defeated. The group’s ability to regroup and maintain its military operations will be critical in determining the course of the conflict moving forward.
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