Lebanon’s Hezbollah rules out negotiations during fighting with Israel

BEIRUT – Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement said on Oct 22 there would be no negotiations while fighting continued with Israel, and it claimed sole responsibility for a drone attack on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s holiday home.

The group “takes full and sole responsibility”

for targeting Mr Netanyahu’s house

, Mr Mohammad Afif, head of the Iranian-backed militant group’s media office, told reporters in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

“If our hands didn’t reach you the previous time, then days, nights and the battlefield are still between us,” he said.

Israel said a drone was launched at Mr Netanyahu’s holiday home on Oct 19. Mr Netanyahu was not there at the time, but he described it as an assassination attempt by “Iran’s proxy Hezbollah” and called it a “grave mistake”.

Hezbollah also, for the first time, acknowledged that Israel has captured some of its fighters since it launched a ground offensive in south Lebanon, and said Israel was responsible for their well-being.

Hezbollah has not captured any Israeli soldier but has come close, Mr Afif said.

“It won’t take long before we have captives from the enemy (Israel),” he said.

He also denied that the group’s Al-Qard Al-Hassan Association was involved in financing Hezbollah salaries or weapons and would fulfil its obligations to clients in full even after Israel targeted it with some 30 strikes on Oct 20.

Israel and the US say Al-Qard Al-Hassan, which has more than 30 outlets across Lebanon, is used by Hezbollah for money laundering and terrorism financing, assertions the group denies. REUTERS