Naim Kassem made the televised speech as fears grow in Lebanon that Israel could escalate its bombardment of the country to force Hezbollah to give up its arsenal across the country, which the group has repeatedly denied.
Israel’s killing of Hezbollah’s top military commander, Khayam Ali Tabtabai, in an attack on a southern suburb of Beirut on November 23 further exacerbated those concerns.
“Is war expected later? It is possible at some point. The possibility is there, and the possibility of no war is there,” Kasem said.
Kasem did not specifically say what the group’s position would be in a new war, but said Lebanon should prepare a plan to confront Israel, which relies “on its army and its people.”
Kasem also said he hoped Pope Leo’s visit to Lebanon “will play a role in bringing peace and ending Israeli aggression.”
Lebanon is under increasing pressure from Israel and the US to accelerate the disarmament of Hezbollah and other groups across the country.
Shortly after Qassem’s speech ended, Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee said the Lebanese army’s efforts to disarm Hezbollah in the south of the country were “insufficient.”
“Hezbollah continues to manipulate and work in secret to maintain its arsenal,” Adraee said in his X post.
But Hezbollah has said it is not ready to give up its weapons as long as Israel continues to target Lebanese territory and continue its occupation of five points in the country’s south.
(Vijesti.ba)
