Hezbollah says ‘prepared’ for action against Israel when time comes

Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement has said on Friday that it would be “fully prepared” to join its Palestinian ally Hamas in the war against Israel when the time is right.

Hezbollah deputy chief Naim Qassem spoke as Hamas and Israel traded heavy fire for the eighth day, after hundreds of Hamas gunmen stormed across the fence from Gaza into Israel and killed more than 1,300 people.

Israel has bombarded Gaza since then, killing at least 1,900 people, mostly civilians and including more than 600 children.

“We, as Hezbollah, are contributing to the confrontation and will (continue) to contribute to it within our vision and plan,” Qassem told a pro-Palestinian rally in Beirut’s southern suburbs. “We are fully prepared, and when the time comes for action, we will take it,” he said.

Outreach by “major countries, Arab countries, and envoys from the United Nations, directly and indirectly, asking us not to interfere in the battle, will not affect us”, he said, adding: “Hezbollah knows its duties.”