Hezbollah-owned Iranian anti-tank missiles captured by IDF forces in southern Lebanon in 2006. Photo: IDF.

JNS.org – Israel has been deterred by Hezbollah and it would be “foolish and reckless” for the Jewish state to launch a military campaign on its northern border, the Lebanese terror group’s deputy leader claimed on Thursday.

Naim Qassem, second in command to Hassan Nasrallah, made the comments during an interview with the Hezbollah-affiliated daily newspaper Al-Akhbar. Qassem said Israel feared the possibility of incurring high civilian casualties in a confrontation with Hezbollah.

“All the indications point to the fact that Israel is deterred,” he said. “It has not taken a decision to act in a renewed aggressive manner against Lebanon at this stage. It doesn’t flow from its morals, but rather from its understanding that any war against Lebanon is a guaranteed loss for Israel.”

Qassem also expressed confidence regarding the terror organization’s readiness and capabilities in any future conflict with Israel, saying, “The level of Hezbollah’s readiness enables it to withstand any possible war, both numerically and in terms of means and goals.”