Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem threatened Israel directly for the first time in months in a televised speech on Tuesday, saying missiles would fall on it if it resumed a broad war on Lebanon.

The leader of Lebanon’s Hezbollah is warning that if Israel intensifies its military operations against his group, the Iran-backed armed faction will resume firing missiles toward Israel.

Hezbollah's leader warned Tuesday that the Lebanese group would retaliate if Israel continues to intensify its attacks. Naim Kassem’s

Lebanon's cabinet will meet on Tuesday to discuss Hezbollah's arsenal, after Washington ramped up pressure on ministers to publicly commit to disarming the Iran-backed group and amid fears Israel could intensify strikes if they fail to do so.

Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem on Tuesday said his group rejects any timetable for handing over its weapons while Israeli strikes continue, warning that the move would only serve Israel’s interests. "We do not agree to any timetable that is presented to be implemented under the umbrella of Israeli aggression,

BEIRUT (Reuters) -Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun called on Hezbollah and other political parties on Thursday to hand over their weapons to the army, a move the powerful militant group is resisting as Washington ramps up pressures for it to remove its arsenal.