On Monday, Sheikh Naim Qassem, the deputy leader of Hezbollah, announced that the group is prepared for any imminent ground assault by Israeli forces, marking the first public remarks from a senior official since the death of their leader.

Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s Secretary-General, was killed by Israel on Friday, following a series of airstrikes throughout the week that dismantled much of the organization’s leadership structure.

“We will face any possibility and we are ready if the Israelis decide to enter by land and the resistance forces are ready for a ground engagement,” Qassem stated in pre-recorded comments.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Israeli special forces have conducted small-scale incursions into Lebanon recently, including operations targeting Hezbollah tunnels along the border in preparation for a broader offensive.

“Despite the losses of its commanders, the attacks against civilians throughout Lebanon, and great sacrifices, we will not budge from our position,” Qassem declared during his address from an undisclosed site in Beirut. “We will continue to support Gaza and to defend Lebanon.”

Throughout his speech, Qassem appeared visibly anxious and was sweating heavily, asserting that Hezbollah will persist in the direction set by Nasrallah, who had been at the helm since 1992.

He emphasized that the group is actively carrying out its operations as per established plans and characterized its strikes against Israel so far as the “minimum.” He noted that while the conflict may be prolonged, Hezbollah remains assured that Israel will not succeed in its objectives.

Qassem paid tribute to Nasrallah for his guidance and his widespread popularity, asserting that Hezbollah has demonstrated its resolve to continue its fight by launching rockets at Haifa and the West Bank settlement of Maale Adumim, an attack that the group had not previously claimed but, according to Qassem, caused a million residents to seek shelter.

He also mentioned that Hezbollah intends to appoint a new secretary-general promptly through an internal selection process, emphasizing that replacements are available for every commander and official.

The Israel Defense Forces reported on Sunday that over 20 Hezbollah members, including Ali Karaki, the commander of the Southern Front, were killed in the extensive airstrikes in Beirut, along with several advisers to the terrorist leader.

It is anticipated that Hashem Safieddine, Nasrallah’s cousin and head of Hezbollah’s executive council, will be chosen as the new leader.

Since October 8, Hezbollah-affiliated forces have been attacking Israeli towns and military positions along the border nearly every day, with the organization stating that these actions are in solidarity with Gaza amid the ongoing conflict there.

Following an escalation of airstrikes against Hezbollah on Monday, more than 630 individuals have been reported killed in Lebanon, according to the country’s health ministry. Additionally, thousands of pagers used by Hezbollah operatives were detonated last week, rendering about 1,500 fighters inactive, an incident attributed to Israel.

Israel has stated it targeted residences where Hezbollah had positioned missiles and rockets, urging civilians to evacuate. The Israeli government claims that many of those killed were Hezbollah operatives, with numerous high-ranking commanders and leaders of the elite Radwan Force—allegedly planning an incursion into Galilee—among the deceased.

According to Lebanese health officials, at least a quarter of the fatalities have been women and children, with their statistics not distinguishing between combatants and civilians. Israel maintains that many of the casualties are Hezbollah fighters.

{Matzav.com Israel}