Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said Friday the group is prepared for a long confrontation with Israel as fighting intensifies in Lebanon, describing the conflict as an “existential” battle.
"We have prepared ourselves for a long confrontation, and God willing, they (Israelis) will be surprised on the battlefield," Qassem said in his second televised address since the latest war began, adding that "the enemy's threats do not frighten us."
"This is an existential battle, not a limited or simple battle."
Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war last week when the Tehran-backed group attacked Israel in response to the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in U.S.-Israeli strikes.
Israel, which had kept up its strikes in Lebanon even before the war despite a 2024 cease-fire, has since launched air raids and sent ground troops into border areas.
