Hezbollah has called for a ceasefire, a move that U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller interprets as a sign that the Iran-backed terror group is “on the back foot and getting battered.” The calls for a ceasefire comes after a pounding military offensive by the IDF over the past several weeks, during which the terrorist group has suffered major damage to its infrastructure and the decimation of its command and leadership.

Addressing the public in a televised speech, Hezbollah’s deputy leader Naim Qassem insisted that the group’s capabilities remain intact and that its fighters are effectively pushing back against Israeli ground incursions, despite acknowledging the “painful blows” dealt by Israel in recent weeks. “You see that our daily accomplishments are great. Hundreds of rockets and dozens of drones have targeted a significant number of Israeli settlements and cities,” Qassem stated, asserting, “I would like to reassure you that our capabilities are fine.”

It’s worth noting the inconsistency in Hezbollah’s messaging. For over a year, the group has resisted calls for a ceasefire, and Miller highlighted this abrupt change in stance: “For a year, you had the world calling for this ceasefire, you had Hezbollah refusing to agree to one, and now that Hezbollah is on the back foot and is getting battered, suddenly they’ve changed their tune.”

In his remarks, Qassem emphasized that Hezbollah’s leadership continues to direct the war efforts, asserting that fallen commanders have been replaced and that there are “no vacant posts.” He also mentioned plans to name a new leader to succeed Hassan Nasrallah, who was reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike last month. However, the circumstances surrounding the ongoing conflict complicate this transition, as Qassem noted that the presumed successor, Hashem Safieddine, has not been heard from since he was targeted in a separate strike. The IDF says he is most likely dead.

While Qassem indicated support for the ceasefire efforts of Lebanon’s Speaker of Parliament, Nabih Berri—a Hezbollah ally—he did not elaborate on any specific conditions the group might demand. Since October 8, Hezbollah has been actively engaging in attacks against Israeli communities and military posts along the border, claiming these actions are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza amid the ongoing war, which escalated following Hamas’s assault on October 7. However, the sudden ceasefire demand has dropped any mention of Hamas or Gaza, despite Hezbollah having said until now that they won’t stop fighting without an end to the hostilities in the Gaza Strip.

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