Qassem is currently living in Tehran, Iran, after fleeing Lebanon on a plane with the country’s foreign minister on October 5, 2024 UAE-based Erem News outlet reports -- at least Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar stayed put in Gaza
In a televised speech marking 40 days since his predecessor Hassan Nasrallah was killed in a strike, new Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said: "We have tens of thousands of trained resistance combatants" ready to fight.
"What will stop this... war is the battlefield" he said, citing fighting in south Lebanon and Hezbollah attacks on Israel.
Israel is "betting on prolonging the war so it becomes a war of attrition... We are ready," Qassem said in his second speech since being named Hezbollah secretary-general last week.
Israeli first of its kind naval raid Qassem demanded explanations from the Lebanese army after Israeli commandos seized a man from north Lebanon on Saturday who they said was a senior Hezbollah operative.
He said the operation was "a great offence to Lebanon" and a "violation" of its sovereignty.
