Hizbullah's deputy secretary-general, Sheikh Naim Kassem, would not rule out on Saturday the abduction of more Israeli soldiers in order to achieve the organization's goals.
Hizbullah's Deputy Secretary-General Sheikh Na'im Kassem.
Photo: AP
"I won't speak about this issue, because it has to do with military activity in the struggle with Israel and with the question of whether this confrontation will demand such an action," Kassem said in an interview to Qatari newspaper Al-Arab. "These are details which will become known in the future. We no longer have a 'prisoner file' but one cannot say what future developments will be."
Kassem added that Hizbullah was in a state of war with Israel, which he said was still occupying the Shaba Farms, the village of Ghajar and the Kfar Shuba hills. "Israel continues to infiltrate Lebanese airspace and thus poses a real threat," he said.
The leader said that Hizbullah's prisoner exchange deal with Israel had "opened the door" for the Palestinians to demand a high price for the release of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Schalit, who is being held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Kassem said Hizbullah had yet to exact revenge for the assassination of military commander Imad Mughnyieh in February, and hinted that this would happen when certain "circumstances" are right.
