Hezbollah’s deputy chief has vowed that the Lebanese armed group is ready to meet an Israeli ground offensive, despite the deaths of its leader and many senior commanders.

Israel has not hit Hezbollah’s military capabilities, said Sheikh Naim Qassem on Monday as he delivered a message of defiance in a public address. Despite the setbacks suffered under the bombardment of Lebanon in recent days, he sought to insist that the Iran-linked armed group will continue to fight.

Hezbollah’s operations have continued at the same pace and more, since the killing of leader Hassan Nasrallah on Friday, Qassem said. He added that Hezbollah will install a new leadership soon via standard mechanisms. The choice of new leadership is clear, Qassem continued, without offering further details.