Hezbollah has the capacity to continue waging war for months – and the war will end with victory, claims Qassem in his first speech since he was appointed as the new leader of the Iran-backed Shia militia. He says, however, that Hezbollah is ready to accept a ceasefire under "suitable conditions".
If the Israelis decide that they want to stop the aggression, we say that we accept, but on the conditions that we consider suitable and fitting.
But such an agreement has not been offered, he added.
According to Qassem, the movement is not fighting on behalf of anyone else, but to protect its country and support the Palestinians.
Iran supports us in our work and does not ask for anything in return, says Qassem according to the Lebanese L'Orient-Le Jour.
How is it possible that 43,000 dead in Gaza, bombings of tents, 100 dead in a single strike in Jabalia, and so on, do not elicit any reaction from the world?
The speech began with a tribute to the long-time Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and his successor Hashem Saffiedine, both of whom were recently killed in Israeli attacks.
Qassem also paid tribute to the deceased Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, reports L'Orient-Le Jour.
