Hassan Nasrallah is in good condition, Naim Qassem, the deputy leader of Hezbollah, insisted Thursday. Qassem's remarks followed a May 25th speech in which the Hezbollah leader appeared thin and frail and coughed continuously.
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Qassem, who did not specify what exactly was ailing Nasrallah, said he had become ill and needed a few days to recover.
The Hezbollah leader had been expected to appear before his followers on the anniversary of the Israel' Defense Forces' withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000, Qassem said. Had Nasrallah not issued the public remarks, this would have raised questions, according to Qassem. "It was better for him to be with his admirers, who expected a speech at this important and sensitive time. The secretary-general is feeling well, inshallah," he said.
Speaking for the first time since a ceasefire ending the 11-day war between Hamas and Israel was reached, Nasrallah on Tuesday said Gaza's terrorist groups had achieved a great victory that paralyzed the Jewish state.
"When holy sites face serious threats there are no red lines," Nasrallah said, speaking slower and in quieter tones than usual, and struggling to catch his breath at times. "All the resistance movements can't sit back and watch if holy sites are in danger."
Hezbollah's shadow loomed during Israel and Hamas' 11-day battle, with the possibility it could unleash its arsenal of missiles – far more powerful than Hamas' – in support of the Palestinians. But the Iran-backed group remained on the sidelines, deterred by what Israel has vowed would be a devastating response against Lebanon.
On Thursday, Israeli security officials said Nasrallah appeared to be suffering from a chronic illness. As evidence, they pointed to a speech the terrorist leader delivered three weeks ago in which he had also had difficulty breathing.
A senior Arab diplomat who is in continuous contact with senior Hezbollah officials in Lebanon's political system, however, ruled out the possibility Nasrallah was chronically ill or in poor health.
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