Qassem described the Israeli strike that killed Tabtabai and several others as "a blatant aggression." (File Photo)
The leader of Lebanon’s Hezbollah said on Friday that the group still has the right to respond to Israel’s killing of one of its top commanders and did not rule out the possibility of a new war.
Naim Qassem made the comments in a televised speech. His remarks came as concerns grew in Lebanon that Israel could widen its attacks to pressure Hezbollah to give up its weapons something the group has repeatedly refused.
Israel killed senior commander Haytham Ali Tabtabai in a strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs on 23 November.
Qassem said Hezbollah would decide when and how to respond. “Do you expect a war later? It’s possible sometime. Yes, this possibility is there, and the possibility of no war is also there,” he said.
Call for national plan
Qassem did not outline what Hezbollah would do if a new conflict began. But he said Lebanon should prepare a plan to face Israel based on “its army and its people.”
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He also said he hoped the upcoming visit by Pope Leo XIV to Lebanon “will play a role in bringing about peace and ending the aggression.”
Israel says Lebanese army efforts are insufficient
Shortly after Qassem spoke, Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said the Lebanese army’s attempts to seize Hezbollah weapons in the south were “inadequate.”
In a post on X, he said: “Hezbollah continues to manipulate them and work covertly to maintain its arsenal.”
Lebanon faces increasing pressure from Israel and the United States to speed up efforts to disarm Hezbollah and other armed groups. Hezbollah has said it will not give up its weapons while Israel carries out strikes inside Lebanon and continues to hold five disputed points in the south.
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Qassem described the Israeli strike that killed Tabtabai and several others as "a blatant aggression." (File Photo) 
