Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his forces would continue to attack Hezbollah "without mercy, everywhere in Lebanon – including Beirut" on Monday. Reuters reports that Hezbollah's deputy chief Naim Qassam responded on Tuesday that the terrorists would continue to inflict "pain" on Israel if Netanyahu did not agree to an immediate ceasefire. Israel has said the goal of the Lebanon operation is to return tens of thousands of residents in northern Israel who were forced to flee because of Hezbollah's continuing strikes.
"The solution is a ceasefire, we are not speaking from a position of weakness, if the Israelis do not want that, we will continue," Qassem said in a recorded speech. "But after the ceasefire, according to an indirect agreement, the settlers would return to the north and other steps will be drawn up."
However, Qassem also stated that his terrorists reserved the right to attack anywhere in Israel because its forces have done the same in Lebanon. He threatened that more Israelis will be displaced and "hundreds of thousands, even more than two million, will be in danger at any time, at any hour, on any day," adding, "We will focus on targeting the Israeli military and its centers and barracks."
Israel is hoping to destroy Hezbollah's infrastructure and eliminate senior leadership after the Iran-backed organization began backing Palestinian terrorist group Hamas and firing rockets into northern Israel after the October 7 massacre. In September, Hezbollah confirmed its leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike. Just over a week later, Israel reported his replacement leader had been eliminated as well.
The UN refugee agency's Middle East director, Rema Jamous Imseis, commented on the evacuation orders, reporting during a Geneva briefing that "People are heeding these calls to evacuate."
