Hezbollah Vows to Resist Israeli Ground Attack on Lebanon, Denies Leadership Rumors

Hezbollah deputy chief, Sheikh Naim Qassem, said on Monday that the Iranian-backed Lebanese organization would "emerge victorious" in its current battle and was prepared to confront the Israeli army's ground attack on Lebanon.

"If Israel intends to invade Lebanon through the land border, resistance fighters stand ready to confront such assaults," Qassem said in what was the first statement from a high-ranking Hezbollah official since the killing of the organisation's Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah in Israeli Air Force's bombing of the southern suburbs of Beirut, late Friday evening.

He stated that in the aftermath of the liquidation of its military-top brass, Hezbollah - which is on the list of global terrorist organisations in many countries - "will never retreat" from its stances.

"I am sure these enemy attacks will not undermine the nation of resistance and we will surely triumph," Qassem commented.

He also announced that the election of the new Secretary General of Lebanon's Hezbollah, as well as new Commanders, would take place soon.

"Options are very easy and everyone is at the same level and united. If a selection is made, it will be an informed one and the conditions are being followed up now," Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency quoted Qassem as saying in his speech.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah rejected media reports about the naming of a new leader to succeed Nasrallah after his assassination, saying that any speculation about the structure of the movement is rejected unless an official announcement is made.

Commenting on news circulating on some media outlets about organisational procedures within the leadership of Hezbollah taken after the martyrdom of His Eminence the Secretary General [Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah]…, "we are interested in clarifying that the related news is of no importance and can't be relied upon," Hezbollah said in a statement Iran's Press TV reported.