Hezbollah talks war and refuses to disarm while Israeli attacks last

Hezbollah, according to its representative Naeem Qassim, retains the right to respond to the Israeli attack that killed its senior commander, Haytham Tabtabai, in Beirut on 23 November.

In a statement, he warned that a new war with Israel was "possible" and that the mere threat of widespread bombing had no bearing on the movement's decision-making.

The answer is to come at a time of the group's choosing. Kassim also appealed to the Lebanese state to prepare for a possible conflict with Israel with the help of the army and its citizens.

He added that the expected visit of Pope Leo could contribute to a peaceful solution. Pressure is mounting from both the US and Israel to disarm Hezbollah, but the group refuses to lay down its arms unless Israel continues its attacks and ends its occupation of some points in southern Lebanon.

At the same time, an Israeli spokesman described the Lebanese army's efforts to disarm Hezbollah as insufficient.

(reuters, mja)