Hezbollah vows to be "ready for any surprise" with Israel

Source: Xinhua | 01-22-2009 17:06

BEIRUT, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Hezbollah's second in command, Sheikh Naim Qassem has vowed to be "ready for any surprise" with Israel, saying its deterrent force has created a "balance of terror," local Naharnet website reported Thursday.

"Hezbollah is prepared and ready for any surprise," Qassem was quoted as saying in an interview on OTV talk show.

As long as Israel exists in the region, it "posses a threat to Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, Egypt and the entire region," he reiterated Hezbollah's believe.

On recent Israeli offensive on Gaza, Qassem said Israel did not achieve its goals because it was not able to wipe out Hamas movement there.

Like the 2006 war on South Lebanon, Israel did not achieve its objectives of ending Hezbollah presence in Lebanon, Qassem said, adding Hezbollah claimed victory in the 2006 war with Israel.

The Arab Peace Initiative, adopted during 2002 Arab summit in Beirut, was "dead after the war on Gaza," said the Hezbollah leader.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei