The televised statement by the deputy leader, Sheikh Naim Qassem, was the first public address by a senior Hezbollah figure since Israel’s killing of the group’s longtime chief, Hassan Nasrallah.
Three days after Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, was killed by Israeli bombs near Beirut, the group’s deputy leader said on Monday that it would name a new chief “at the closest opportunity,” without specifying when.
The televised statement by the deputy leader, Sheikh Naim Qassem, was the first public address by a senior Hezbollah figure since Mr. Nasrallah’s killing. It appeared aimed at reassuring the group’s members after a series of severe Israeli attacks killed and wounded many of its fighters and leaders over the last two weeks.
Speaking from an undisclosed location, Sheikh Qassem called on Hezbollah members to follow contingency plans put in place to ensure that alternate commanders were available if anything happened to the group’s leaders.
He denied reports that Israel’s attacks, which have pounded targets in Hezbollah strongholds across Lebanon over the past week and killed hundreds of people, had significantly damaged the group’s arsenal or reduced its fighting power.
Some Israeli leaders have spoken of the possibility of a ground invasion of southern Lebanon aimed at wiping out Hezbollah’s military infrastructure near the border. Sheikh Qassem said Hezbollah was ready to fight any ground incursion.
“We will confront any possibility, and we are ready if the Israelis decide to enter by land,” he said. “The forces of the resistance are ready for a ground engagement.”
Sheikh Qassem also denied Israeli claims that Mr. Nasrallah had been killed during a large meeting with many other senior officials, saying instead that those killed with him included Ali Karaki, a Hezbollah leader; Abbas Nilforoushan, a senior Iranian military official; Mr. Nasrallah’s head of security; and another close associate.
Ben Hubbard is the Istanbul bureau chief, covering Turkey and the surrounding region. More about Ben Hubbard
