The leader of the Iran-backed Hezbollah warned that all of Israel is now a potential target, asserting that his fighters are ready to escalate the conflict at a moment's notice. The statement came as Israel’s military confirmed that approximately 120 projectiles had been fired from Lebanon into northern Israeli communities on Wednesday alone, illustrating the relentless intensity of the cross-border conflict.

In response to this aggression, the Israeli military launched a calculated counterstrike, targeting Hezbollah’s key operational stronghold in southern Beirut. Prior to the airstrike, the IDF issued a clear evacuation warning, underscoring its intent to minimize civilian casualties while focusing on Hezbollah’s core infrastructure. This latest exchange of hostilities marks yet another chapter in the brutal war that has simmered on Israel’s northern border since October 8, 2023, when Hezbollah—citing solidarity with Hamas—began launching rocket attacks into Israeli territory.

🚨HEZBOLLAH CHIEF CLAIMS MASSIVE ARSENAL, THREATENS INTENSE MISSILE STRIKES ON ISRAEL

Naim Qassem:

“I reassure you, when it comes to the border, we have tens of thousands of resistance and trained fighters who are capable of confronting and standing firm.

The capabilities are… https://t.co/sbGoCzIOks pic.twitter.com/bo6bzaFRUL

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) November 6, 2024

The backdrop to this escalation can be traced to Israel's expanded military focus in Gaza, initially launched to dismantle Hamas following its deadly assault. However, the campaign broadened in scope in September 2024 to counter threats along Israel's northern border, where Hezbollah’s presence had grown increasingly emboldened. The conflict has since led to nearly 2,000 deaths in Lebanon, according to figures from the Lebanese health ministry. Most of the casualties are said to be Hezbollah militants and their affiliates, often located in proximity to targeted sites.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem, who recently took the helm after his predecessor Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli strike, emphasized Hezbollah’s readiness in a nationally televised address. Marking 40 days since Nasrallah’s death, Qassem's speech underscored Hezbollah’s militant resolve. “We have tens of thousands of trained resistance combatants," he declared, promising that his forces stand fully prepared for a prolonged conflict.

IDF Arabic spokesman responds to Naim Qassem:

“Naim Qassem delivers yet another speech from a delusional bubble, issuing threats while fully aware of the inevitable defeat awaiting him. The fact that this speech was pre-recorded and heavily edited reveals the deep chaos,… pic.twitter.com/zeHa992NtM

— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) November 6, 2024

The address was broadcast shortly after the announcement of Donald Trump's U.S. election victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. However, Qassem dismissed the notion that the election outcome would influence ceasefire negotiations or conflict developments, insisting, “We don't base our expectations for a halt of the aggression on political developments. Whether Harris wins or Trump wins, it means nothing to us." He reiterated that Hezbollah’s strategy hinges solely on battlefield outcomes.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for a direct strike on an Israeli military base located near Israel’s main international gateway close to Tel Aviv. While Israel’s Airports Authority confirmed that the attack did not disrupt airport operations, the proximity to Ben Gurion Airport highlighted the reach of Hezbollah’s missile capabilities, sparking concern over the safety of critical infrastructure.

HEZBOLLAH CHIEF: THIS IS NETANYAHU'S 3-STEP PLAN IN WAR ON LEBANON

Naim Qassem:

“What are the steps of this plan via the war on Lebanon? There are 3 steps. The first, to end the existence of Hezbollah. The second, to occupy Lebanon even from a distance from the air and by… pic.twitter.com/cHLXdrVk5P

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) November 6, 2024

Amidst the ongoing warfare, the conflict has evolved into a protracted “war of attrition,” as Qassem described it. Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported a wave of Israeli airstrikes across Hezbollah-controlled territories, targeting sites in the Bekaa Valley and the southern city of Nabatiyeh. Reports from AFP's correspondents in Baalbek indicated particularly intense strikes, signaling Israel’s commitment to neutralizing Hezbollah’s command centers and logistical networks.

Qassem’s rhetoric centered on national sovereignty, demanding that Lebanon’s autonomy be safeguarded in any prospective ceasefire discussions. Furthermore, he condemned a recent Israeli naval commando raid in northern Lebanon, calling it a “violation” of Lebanon’s sovereignty. The operation reportedly involved the seizure of a high-ranking Hezbollah operative, an action Lebanon is still probing. According to preliminary findings, Israeli forces used advanced maritime technology capable of jamming UN radars to bypass detection by the United Nations Maritime Task Force, which has been tasked with monitoring Lebanon’s coastal security since 2006.

Hezbollah’s new Secretary General, Naim Qassem: “The focus is no longer on how the war began, but on the Israeli aggression we now face. What does Netanyahu say? He admits he has no end date for this war. And what are his goals? Netanyahu claims he wants to reshape the Middle… https://t.co/aPlHLWC63a

— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) November 6, 2024

Hezbollah’s leader closed his address with a vow to maintain a relentless campaign against Israel, framing his group’s actions as a necessary defense of Lebanon’s sovereignty. As the conflict intensifies, Hezbollah has made it clear: in its view, the only way to end this confrontation is on the battlefield.