Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group, issued a stern warning on November 7, confirming that tens of thousands of its fighters are prepared to engage Israel in battle. The group emphasized that the results of the U.S. presidential election would not impact the ongoing conflict in Lebanon.
Hezbollah’s leader, Naim Qassem, declared that no area in Israel would be safe from attacks, following a barrage of around 120 projectiles launched across the border into Israeli territory. In response, the Israeli military struck Hezbollah’s stronghold in southern Beirut, after issuing an evacuation order for the area.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalated in late September, when Israel shifted its military focus from Gaza to securing its northern border with Lebanon. This change came after Hezbollah initiated cross-border attacks in solidarity with Hamas, which launched a large-scale assault on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Despite ongoing efforts to resolve the war in Gaza, which was triggered by Hamas’ attack, the violence in Lebanon continues. The conflict has claimed nearly 2,000 lives, according to Lebanese health officials.
In a televised address marking 40 days since the death of his predecessor, Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s Qassem reassured his supporters that the group’s forces were fully prepared for combat, stating, “We have tens of thousands of trained resistance combatants ready to fight.”
The speech, although recorded before Donald Trump’s victory was confirmed, was aired shortly after the U.S. election results were announced.
