Hezbollah Official: Israel Is Not Ready To Face What We Prepare

Hezbollah soldiers. (Wikimedia Commons/Tasnim News Agency)

JAKARTA - Hezbollah official Mohammad Raad warned Israel was not ready to fight against the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group, saying Israel was "frustrated and ashamed" of their defeat in the war against Hamas in Gaza.

Raad said it was an honor for Lebanon's "opposite" group in the country to fight against Israel, accusing the Jewish state of being "guards of arrogant people looting our wealth, controlling our waterways, imposing their will on a number of countries and dominating us."

He also said Israel suffered defeat in Gaza and "failed to achieve its goals" in all aspects, pointing out that "the resistance will remain the main ones."

"The Israeli enemy was forced to withdraw and withdraw because he was tired and faced resistance they did not expect, and had frustrated and humiliated all those who supported him," he said, quoted by The Times of Israel January 19.

"The Israeli enemy is not ready to fight against what has been prepared by the resistance in Lebanon," he said.

Earlier, militant group Hezbollah reportedly rejected Washington's initial proposal to ease tensions on the border with Israel, including to withdraw its troops, but remains open to diplomacy with the United States to avoid a more devastating war, Lebanese officials said.

"Hezbollah is ready to listen," said a senior Lebanese official familiar with the group's thoughts, stressing the militant group views Hochstein's idea of a visit to Beirut last week as unrealistic.

Despite rejecting the US proposal last week, Hezbollah has signaled that after the Gaza war ends, they will be open to Lebanon to negotiate a mediated deal on disputed territory at the border, three Lebanese officials said, a possibility alluded to by Hezbollah's leader in a speech this month.

"After the war in Gaza, we are ready to support Lebanese negotiators to turn threats into opportunities," a senior official Hezbollah told Reuters, speaking without naming and not discussing specific proposals.