The Islamic Group in Lebanon is in an open war with the "criminal" Israeli occupation entity, stressed Bassam Hammoud, the group's political leader in southern Lebanon, on Thursday.

Earlier, the al-Fajr Forces, the military wing of the Islamic Group in Lebanon, mourned commander Mohammad Jbara who was killed in an Israeli drone strike that targeted his car in the town of Ghazze in the western Bekaa.

In an interview for Lebanon’s Al-Fajr radio, Hammoud indicated that the Israeli occupation does not hesitate to commit its crimes in all forms, including targeting Resistance leaders with American, British, and European assistance.

He emphasized that such Israeli assassinations indicate the extent of the damage and painful injuries that the Resistance is inflicting on this enemy on the battlefield, affirming that this battle is "a battle of existence, not just a border conflict."

The official acknowledged that the sacrifices offered in Lebanon and Palestine, especially in Gaza, are high and costly but affirmed that the end goal is worth it.

"The battle we are fighting will mark a turning point in the history of the conflict with the Zionist entity," he said.

Hammoud saluted Gaza and Palestine, adding that the martyrdom of Jbara and his comrades confirms that "we share the same approach, doctrine, and thought with the heroes of Palestine who stand against the Zionist enemy."

He affirmed the Islamic Group's determination to pursue the path of resistance, underlining that all these assassinations will not intimidate the group, which will continue to tread on its resistance path until the liberation of the occupied Lebanese territories and in support of the people of Gaza until the "Nazi-like" criminal Israeli entity halts its aggression.

The Lebanese official underscored that these Israeli crimes will not go unpunished and the enemy will pay the price for its crimes.

Hammoud said the Israeli occupation is not capable of launching a wide-scale aggression on Lebanon, asserting that if it could, it would not hesitate.

He pointed out that "Israel" knows that the Resistance in Lebanon, with all its factions, possesses the capabilities to make it pay a high price if it ever thinks of expanding the war with Lebanon.

The Islamic Group in Lebanon confirmed that the assassination of Jbara would not deter it from defending the land of southern Lebanon and its people and supporting the people in Palestine.

The al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas movement, also mourned Jbara, describing him as "a Qassam commander" and one of its "valiant knights".

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