BEIRUT (AP) — Israeli airstrikes killed Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, and six of his commanders in the last 10 days, in addition to hitting thousands of military targets across much of Lebanon. Despite this, the number two of the political-military organization promised on Monday to continue fighting against Israel and said that the armed group was prepared for a long war.
On Monday morning, an airstrike hit a residential building in downtown Beirut, destroying one apartment and damaging others. Three Palestinian militants died in the attack, which seemed to convey an Israeli message that no part of Lebanon was off-limits.
This attack killed three members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a small left-wing faction that has not been significantly involved in the recent fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.
More than 1,000 people have died in the recent bombings in Lebanon, of which nearly a quarter were women and children, according to the Ministry of Health, and the government says that the fighting may have displaced up to one million people.
Who is the number two of Hezbollah?
Despite the heavy blow that Hezbollah has received, the group's acting leader, Naim Kassem, said in his first speech since Nasrallah's death, in a televised message, that if Israel decides to launch a ground offensive, Hezbollah fighters are ready to fight and defend Lebanon.
"Israel couldn't affect our capacity (military)," said Kassem. "There are deputy commanders and replacements in case a commander gets injured in any position." The group understands that "the battle could be long," he added.
As deputy secretary general, Naim Kassem is now the acting leader of the political and military group until a replacement for Nasrallah is chosen.
Hezbollah has significantly increased its rocket attacks against Israel in the past week and is now launching hundreds a day, but the majority have been intercepted or landed in open spaces. Several people have been injured in Israel. There have been no deaths since two soldiers died near the border on September 19.
Kassem added that despite the assassinations of Hezbollah military leaders in recent months, the group is operating with new commanders.
Hezbollah began launching rockets, drones, and missiles into northern Israel after Hamas' attack on October 7 from Gaza triggered the war there. Hezbollah and Hamas are allies with support from Iran.
Is an immediate ceasefire possible?
The United States and its allies have called for a ceasefire and hope to prevent a new escalation that could involve Iran and trigger a wider war. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has shown little interest as his country accumulates military achievements against an old enemy.
Some Israelis erupted in spontaneous celebrations when Nasrallah's death was announced. Videos of people in bars singing a song in Hebrew mocking him were circulating on the internet.
A television host on a network aligned with Netanyahu sang and danced, and the audience in the studio joined in, while a commentator on Israel's largest television channel offered celebratory drinks to the guests on the show.
Hezbollah, which boasts tens of thousands of experienced fighters and long-range missiles capable of reaching any point in Israel, had long been considered the strongest militia force in the region and a key partner of Iran in threatening and deterring Israel. Hezbollah and Israel fought a month-long war in 2006.
However, the group has never faced an offensive like this one, which began with a sophisticated attack on their beepers and walkie-talkies in mid-September that killed dozens of people and injured around 3,000, including many fighters but also many civilians.