Speaking to Russia’s RT Arabic news network, Sheikh Qassem deplored Israeli drone attacks on the Lebanese capital of Beirut and in the town of Qusaya and said that Hezbollah will respond to the attacks by dealing “a surprising blow”.
“Hezbollah cannot provide details (about the response) that will help Tel Aviv but the blow would be a shock,” he said.
“The Lebanese government’s stance on the Israeli aggression is correct, and we do not wait for the UN Security Council to respond to the attack,” said Naim Qassem.
Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun called the Israeli drone attacks on Beirut and Qusaya a “declaration of war” on Monday.
“The attacks on Dahiyeh and the Qusaya region violate (UN Security Council) Resolution 1701, and its stipulations that bind Lebanon should also be binding for Israel,” Aoun told UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jan Kubis during a meeting, according to media reports.
“What happened resembles a declaration of war that entitles us to resort to our right to defend our sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity,” Aoun continued.
“We are people who seek peace, not war, but we do not accept to be threatened by anyone in any manner,” he added.
Aoun’s comments came after Israel attacked a base belonging to a Palestinian group in Lebanon’s Bekaa near the border with Syria early Monday.