In a powerful and emotional televised speech on Tuesday, Hezbollah’s deputy leader, Naim Qassem, directly warned Israel that missiles would rain down on its territory if it launched a new large-scale attack on Lebanon. This is the first time in several months that a top Hezbollah figure has issued such a clear and forceful statement.

Hezbollah Leader Issues First Direct Threat in Months

Qassem declared that if Israel carries out a “large-scale aggression” against Lebanon, Hezbollah, alongside the Lebanese army and civilians, would respond with full force. He said this response would cause major damage to Israeli security infrastructure.

“This defence will lead to missiles falling inside the Israeli entity, and all the security they have built over eight months will collapse within an hour,” Qassem said during his speech.

His comments came as the Lebanese cabinet held a meeting to talk about the future of Hezbollah’s weapons. The discussion follows pressure from the United States, which wants Lebanon to commit to disarming Hezbollah. The U.S. has reportedly offered a deal: in return for disarmament, Israel would stop its military strikes, withdraw troops from certain areas in south Lebanon, and provide funds to help rebuild regions damaged during the previous conflict.

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However, tensions remain high. There are growing fears in the region that if Lebanon’s government does not act quickly, Israel may intensify its military strikes again.

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In his speech, Qassem also shared details about the human cost of the previous war with Israel, which ended in November through a U.S.-brokered ceasefire. According to him, the conflict resulted in the deaths of 5,000 Hezbollah fighters and left 13,000 more wounded. This was the first time Hezbollah publicly gave a death toll from the war.

Qassem also said the war had caused the loss of several top leaders within the group, including its former leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. In addition to the human loss, large parts of Hezbollah’s military capabilities were reportedly destroyed during the fighting.

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Despite these losses, Qassem assured that Hezbollah remains fully organized and ready to fight again if needed. He praised the group’s fighters, saying they are still prepared to make what he called “the harshest sacrifices.”

Just minutes after his televised speech ended, dozens of men were seen riding motorcycles in Beirut’s southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold. They waved Hezbollah’s yellow flags as a show of support. This marked the second day in a row such public displays had taken place.

The atmosphere in Lebanon is becoming increasingly tense, especially as both sides seem to be preparing for the possibility of renewed conflict.

Hezbollah Rejects U.S. Pressure and Demands Ceasefire Compliance

Tensions between Lebanon and the United States have been rising since June, when discussions began on a U.S.-led plan to disarm Hezbollah. The roadmap included promises such as the halting of Israeli airstrikes, Israeli troop withdrawal from five points in southern Lebanon, and financial support for rebuilding efforts.

But talks have made little progress. With growing frustration, Washington has been pressing Lebanese government officials to quickly make a public commitment to the disarmament plan. According to sources, the U.S. wants a clear pledge so that negotiations can continue and regional stability can be maintained.

Qassem firmly pushed back against these demands in his speech. He said that discussions about weapons or disarmament can only happen once Israel fully respects the ceasefire agreement by halting its military operations in Lebanon.

“Solve the problem of the (Israeli) aggression, and then we will discuss the issue of the weapons,” he stated. According to him, the immediate priority should be ending what he described as ongoing Israeli attacks.

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Qassem also criticized the pressure being applied to Lebanese officials. He warned them not to give in to “external dictates.” He also advised them not to waste time on outside interference.

His comments show Hezbollah’s strong opposition to foreign-led plans. The group does not want to weaken its military unless there is full peace on Lebanon’s terms.

This shows how fragile peace in the region still is. There is a real threat of violence starting again. Foreign troops are still present. Political pressure is growing. Both sides are standing firm. This makes the situation even more tense. The region could stay peaceful — or see conflict return very soon.