Qassem says Israel's wave of killings will 'push resistance forward'

Hezbollah number two Naim Qassem in a speech Tuesday warned that Israel's wave of targeted killings "cannot lead to a phase of retreat but rather to a push forward for the resistance".

He described Hezbollah field commander Wissam Tawil - who was killed in an Israeli airstrike on his car on Monday - as a member of Hezbollah's elite al-Radwan Brigade who had fought on several fronts.

Tawil, a top Hezbollah commander, was buried in his south Lebanon village later on Tuesday. During his funeral in Kherbet Selem, another car was targeted and the National News Agency reported casualties.

Tawil was the highest-ranking Hezbollah member to be killed since October 7.

Hezbollah, a Hamas ally, said Tawil was involved in the abduction of Israeli soldiers which triggered the group's last war with Israel in 2006 as well as "specific operations... in Syria".

He had also "directed numerous operations" against Israeli forces since the Gaza war began, Hezbollah said.

The three months of cross-border violence have killed more than 180 people in Lebanon, including over 135 Hezbollah fighters, but also more than 20 civilians including three journalists, according to an AFP tally.

In northern Israel, nine soldiers and at least four civilians have been killed, according to Israeli authorities.