In the first official address since the death of Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah, the group's deputy leader, Naim Qassem, reaffirmed the group's readiness to confront any potential Israeli ground offensive.

“We are prepared for any scenario, and if the Israelis decide to engage on the ground, the resistance forces are fully ready,” Qassem said in a televised speech. 

Despite the loss of key commanders and the ongoing attacks on Lebanese civilians, Qassem emphasized Hezbollah’s unwavering commitment to its cause.

“We will not be swayed from our position,” he stated. “We will continue to support Gaza and defend Lebanon, no matter the sacrifices.”

Qassem also paid tribute to the group’s slain leader, Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut last Friday. He stressed that Hezbollah will continue to operate according to pre-established plans, downplaying the scale of its recent attacks on Israel as merely the "minimum." He warned that the conflict could be prolonged but expressed confidence that Israel would fail to achieve its objectives.

During his address, Qassem hailed Hezbollah's recent rocket attacks on Haifa and the West Bank settlement of Maale Adumim, noting that the strikes forced over a million Israelis into bomb shelters. This attack, previously unclaimed by Hezbollah, demonstrated the group’s ability to retaliate with significant force, he said.

Qassem also addressed the future leadership of Hezbollah, confirming that the group will soon elect a new secretary-general through its internal process. He reassured supporters that for every fallen commander or official, there are capable replacements ready to step in and continue the fight.