Hezbollah is determined not to ramp up its attacks over Lebanon’s southern border, but will respond in kind to any Israeli escalation, Hezbollah Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem told NBC News.

Qassem slammed Israel and the United States for perpetuating tit-for-tat attacks that have killed hundreds in southern Lebanon and displaced tens of thousands of civilians on both sides of the border. 

“We didn’t expect the war would last this long because we didn’t think that Netanyahu was that foolish, same for Biden and the other countries,” Qassem said.

Qassem said Hezbollah’s fight is “serving its purpose” by “luring the Israeli forces to get busy in the north.”

“Therefore, we will continue to do so, and we will not wage a full-scale war unless the Israelis decide to get into war against us,” he said. “Then we are ready for the full confrontation.”