Hezbollah open to new war with Israel

BEIRUT:

The head of Lebanese group Hezbollah said on Friday it retained the right to respond to Israel's killing days ago of its top military commander and left open the possibility of a new conflict with Israel.

Naim Qassem spoke in a televised address as fears grew in Lebanon that Israel could escalate its bombardment of the country to compel Hezbollah to relinquish its arsenal across the country, which the group has repeatedly rejected.

Israel's killing of Hezbollah's top military commander Haytham Ali Tabtabai in a strike on Beirut's southern suburbs on November 23 sharpened those worries. Qassem said the group would "set the timing" for any retaliation, and said threats of a broader air campaign had no impact on the group - but that renewed war was possible. Reuters