Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has said that Hezbollah’s deputy leader, Naim Qassem, is now on Israel’s “hit list” and could be targeted at any time.
In a statement posted on the social media platform X, Katz warned that Hezbollah would pay a heavy price for attacks on Israel, adding that Qassem had become a marked target for the Israeli state.
He further stated that anyone attempting to follow the path of Iran’s leadership would face severe consequences.
Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces launched what it described as an offensive operation against Hezbollah in Lebanon on Monday morning. According to Lebanon’s health ministry, Israeli air strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs and other parts of southern Lebanon have so far resulted in 31 deaths and 149 injuries.
Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for missile and drone attacks on Israeli military installations. The group said the strikes were carried out in response to what it described as daily Israeli attacks on Lebanon and in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
