Hezbollah Warns of “Possible War” After Israel’s Assassination of Senior Commander

The deputy secretary-general of Hezbollah, Naim Qassem, delivered a stark televised address on Friday, asserting the group's unwavering right to retaliate for Israel's targeted assassination of its senior military commander, Haytham Ali Tabtabai, in a precision strike on Beirut's southern suburbs on November 23. This bold declaration came amid mounting apprehensions in Lebanon that Israel might intensify its aerial operations to force the militant organization into surrendering its extensive arsenal nationwide, a demand Hezbollah has categorically dismissed on multiple occasions.

Qassem emphasized that the group alone would dictate the precise timing of any counteraction, dismissing Israeli threats of an expanded air campaign as ineffective in swaying their resolve. In a candid assessment of the volatile situation, he acknowledged the dual pathways ahead, stating, "Do you expect a war later? It's possible sometime. Yes, this possibility is there, and the possibility of no war is also there." This measured yet ominous rhetoric underscores the precarious balance between de-escalation and renewed hostilities along the Israel-Lebanon border.

While refraining from outlining Hezbollah's exact strategy in the event of full-scale conflict, Qassem urged the Lebanese government to devise a comprehensive defense framework centered on the nation's armed forces and civilian populace. He further expressed optimism regarding Pope Leo's forthcoming visit to Lebanon, suggesting it could serve as a pivotal diplomatic catalyst "in bringing about peace and ending the [Israeli] aggression," thereby invoking international mediation as a potential buffer against further escalation.

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Lebanon faces intensifying diplomatic coercion from both Israel and the United States to expedite the disarmament of Hezbollah and affiliated armed factions, in line with longstanding United Nations resolutions aimed at stabilizing the region. However, the group remains steadfast, vowing to retain its weaponry as long as Israeli incursions into Lebanese airspace persist and the occupation of five strategic southern enclaves continues, framing its armament as essential for national sovereignty.

In a swift rebuttal posted on X immediately following Qassem's remarks, Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee lambasted the Lebanese army's initiatives to confiscate Hezbollah munitions in the southern territories as woefully insufficient, alleging that the group persists in covertly stockpiling arms and undermining official efforts. This exchange highlights the deepening rift and the fragile truce that has held since earlier clashes, with both sides bracing for the uncertain repercussions of Qassem's veiled ultimatum.

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