
Hezbollah's leader on Wednesday (Nov. 6) announced that the outcome of the US presidential election would not affect any potential ceasefire agreement to end the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
"We don't base our expectations for a halt of the aggression on political developments... Whether (Kamala) Harris wins or (Donald) Trump wins, it means nothing to us," he said in a recorded address given before Trump declared his victory.
"We have tens of thousands of trained resistance combatants prepared to engage in combat," Naim Qassem said during a speech commemorating 40 days since his predecessor's death.
Qassem further cautioned that no location in Israel would be considered "off-limits" for Hezbollah's attacks.
"What will stop this... war is the battlefield," he added, referencing ongoing clashes in southern Lebanon and Hezbollah's strikes on Israel.
This was Qassem's second address since being appointed Hezbollah’s secretary-general last week. He took over from the former leader, Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in a major Israeli airstrike on Hezbollah’s stronghold in southern Beirut.
In a separate development, airstrikes hit areas in south Beirut on Wednesday, roughly an hour after Israel issued evacuation warnings for three regions in Hezbollah's main stronghold. One of the strikes caused a loud explosion that was heard across much of the capital, according to witnesses cited by AFP.
Israel's military spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, warned residents to leave the southern suburbs of Burj al-Barajneh, Laylaki, and Haret Hreik in a post on X.
"You are located near facilities and interests affiliated with Hezbollah, against which the (military) will act in the near future," Adraee stated as Naim Qassem’s speech was being broadcast.
Earlier on Wednesday, Lebanon’s official National News Agency reported Israeli airstrikes on the eastern Bekaa Valley and the southern city of Nabatiyeh.
(With inputs from agencies)