Hezbollah appears to have realized that its war against Israel is too big for it. Sheikh Naim Quassem, the terrorist group’s vice leader, announced Hezbollah’s support for ceasefire efforts in Lebanon. This is a major shift from Hezbollah’s previous position.
Hezbollah’s aggression against Israel, in support of Hamas, has escalated since the announcement.
“We support (Parliament speaker Nabih Berri) Berri’s political efforts to achieve a ceasefire. All other details and decisions will only be decided after the ceasefire has been firmly established.’
Hezbollah’s latest statement is notable because it does not try to force Israel to stop its offensive in Gaza against Hamas as it did previously.
Hezbollah, a militant group in Lebanon, began to fire at Israel on 8 October last year as a sign of solidarity with Hamas which had attacked Israel from Gaza the day before.
Hezbollah previously said that it would cease its attacks against Israel only after a ceasefire with Hamas was achieved in Gaza.
Israel insisted, however, that Hezbollah segregate its conflict with Israel and the ongoing war against Hamas.
Qassem, in his speech to mark the first anniversary of Hezbollah’s involvement in war, did not mention that a Gaza ceasefire was a prerequisite for achieving a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Qassem delivered his second speech after Israel killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in late November.
Israel has conducted limited ground incursions in southern Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah which continues to fire rockets at northern Israel.
Israel intensified its military operations against Hezbollah after eliminating Nasrallah. The goal was to dismantle the group’s capability.
Qassem, despite expressing his support for a truce, still tried to come across as strong by adopting a defiant attitude in his speech. He said: “If the enemy continues their war, the battlefield will be decisive and belongs to us.”
White House seems to have abandoned a ceasefire agreement, at least temporarily. CNN officials reported that the Biden administration had stopped promoting such an agreement, and instead decided to limit the scope of Israeli military operations.
The Israeli Defense Forces have also been bombing Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, targeting their strongholds and weapon caches. Daniel Hagari, IDF spokesperson said: “Our soldiers exposed Hezbollah’s hidden weapons caches; seized and destroyed these weapons.”
Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to keep going until all the enemies of Israel are eradicated on the anniversary of Hamas’ October 7, 2023 murder of Israeli civilians. “We suffered a terrible loss a year ago. In the last 12 months, our reality has completely changed,” he told military personnel.
Hezbollah seems to be tired of being beaten by the IDF. The organization has not been able to mount a serious challenge to Israel as it did during the 2006 war in Lebanon.
