Hezbollah Leader Claims Ready Forces of ‘Tens of Thousands’ of Skilled Soldiers Prepared to Engage Israel

The leader of Hezbollah recently stated that his organization possesses an impressive number of fighters, claiming tens of thousands are primed for battle. He emphasized that no part of Israel is off-limits when it comes to their potential operations.

For over a year now, Israel and the Iran-supported Hezbollah have been locked in a cycle of violence, which has intensified alongside the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Since late September, the situation has taken a more serious turn, with Israeli forces launching airstrikes across southern Lebanon and conducting ground incursions into border towns.

“We have tens of thousands of trained resistance combatants ready to fight,” proclaimed Naim Qassem, marking his remarks during a ceremony that commemorated 40 days since the death of his predecessor, Hassan Nasrallah. This event also marked Qassem’s second public address since stepping into the role of Hezbollah’s secretary-general just last week.

In recent clashes, Hezbollah reported that it targeted an Israeli military installation located near Ben Gurion Airport with a barrage of missiles. Meanwhile, on the ground, Lebanese aid workers combed through the ruins of a collapsed apartment building in southern Beirut, searching for victims following a deadly Israeli strike that occurred the previous day. The exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah continued unabated.

Sirens blared throughout northern and central Israel, as reports indicated a rocket hit in close proximity to the airport. However, airport authorities reassured the public that operations continued as usual. El Al, Israel’s flagship airline, confirmed that none of its aircraft were harmed despite the nearby explosions.

Smoke billowed from the site of an Israeli airstrike in the southern suburbs of Beirut, where the attack in Barja devastated a multi-storey apartment building atop a hill. The strike resulted in severe structural damage, exposing the interior walls and staircases. Reports from Lebanon’s health ministry indicated that by midnight, 20 lives had been lost, with 14 others injured. There was growing concern that the casualty figures could rise further.

Moussa Zahran, who lived on one of the upper floors of the targeted building, returned to assess the damage. He was met with the grim reality of his situation: his feet, injured in the explosion, were wrapped in gauze, while his wife and son received treatment in a nearby hospital after the attack. “These rocks you see weigh 100 kilos; they fell on a 13-kilo child,” he lamented, referring to the heavy debris that had crushed his son.

The specifics of the airstrike’s target remain unclear, and there were no evacuation alerts prior to the bombing. Subsequently, the Israeli military launched additional strikes in the southern city of Nabatieh, but only after issuing evacuation notices for affected neighborhoods.

This recent strike in Barja stands out as one of the most lethal single attacks to date, contributing to a rising death toll that has exceeded 3,000 casualties in Israeli operations in Lebanon over the past year, with the majority occurring in the last six weeks alone. Efforts by the U.S. to broker a proposed 60-day ceasefire stumbled last week, leaving many in Lebanon anxious about a possible escalation of hostilities following the appointment of Israel Katz as the new defense minister. Katz openly declared his mission to “defeat” Hezbollah, pledging that displaced residents of northern Israel should be able to return home safely.

In a parallel move, Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, an ally of Hezbollah and a key figure in diplomatic discussions, recently convened with the U.S. and Saudi ambassadors to Lebanon to deliberate on the ongoing political tensions in the region, though detailed outcomes from their talks remain undisclosed.

Lebanon has formally filed a complaint with the United Nations regarding attacks on communication devices that occurred earlier in September, which it attributes to Israeli forces. Labor Minister Mustafa Bayram condemned the incidents as a “grievous war against humanity, against technology, against work.” He pointed out that this formal complaint was submitted to the International Labour Organization in Geneva to highlight the breach of workers’ rights and safety. “This creates a perilous precedent,” he insisted, speaking from Geneva at a gathering organized by the UN correspondents’ association ACANU.

While Israel has not claimed responsibility for these attacks, Bayram remarked that it is “widely accepted internationally” that Israel is accountable for this “atrocious act.” He added that “over 4,000 civilians were affected, including numerous casualties and many others who sustained life-altering injuries.” The widespread destruction has rendered ordinary objects hazardous, creating a grim environment for daily life. He expressed concern that if such violations are permitted to persist, they could become normalized, and filing complaints is imperative to safeguard against future atrocities.

Bayram elaborated that the decision to pursue redress through the ILO was essential, particularly for the workers caught in the chaos when their communication devices exploded. “It was crucial to underscore that this attack violates principles of a safe and secure workplace,” he stated, reinforcing that Lebanese officials can seek justice for these attacks in other international forums as well. He noted that the government’s objective is to compile a broad array of complaints regarding Israeli actions in Lebanese territory, given the extensive nature of the violations.

Edited by: Ali Musa

alimusa@axadletimes.com

Axadle international–Monitoring