### Hezbollah Signals Willingness for Cease-fire Talks with Israel Following Significant Losses

Hezbollah has announced its readiness to enter cease-fire negotiations with Israel after facing substantial setbacks in its leadership and ranks in recent months. The announcement came from the armed group's deputy secretary general, Naim Qassem, shortly after a massive rocket attack on Israel. This move marks a significant shift for Hezbollah, which had previously insisted on continuing its assaults until Israel ended its military operations in Gaza.

Qassem openly supported the cease-fire efforts led by Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. "We support the political efforts led by Berri under the banner of achieving a cease-fire. Once the cease-fire is firmly established and diplomacy can reach it, all other details will be discussed and decisions will be made collaboratively," Qassem declared, according to a CNN translation.

The announcement closely followed a major assault involving over 100 rockets fired from Lebanon at Haifa, Israel's third-largest city. This attack resulted in one elderly woman being wounded by shrapnel. Just a day earlier, a similar barrage left two people injured in the same city.

Hezbollah’s desire for a truce reflects its dire situation, attributing its shift to the loss of many key figures due to Israeli military actions. The group has faced daily bombardments nearly every day since October 8. Israeli airstrikes have claimed the lives of Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on September 27 and his likely successor, Hashem Safieddine, before he could be officially appointed. Over a dozen senior officials, including commanders of elite military and missile units, have also been killed.

The string of Israeli operations against Hezbollah has not only decimated leadership but also weakened its operational capabilities, significantly. Various ground raids and airstrikes have resulted in the destruction of multiple tunnels, weapons depots, and rocket launching facilities. According to Israeli military sources, more than 200 Hezbollah operatives were killed in recent raids, impacting the group's overall effectiveness.

Whether Israel will agree to a cease-fire remains uncertain. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that military operations in Lebanon will persist until there is certainty that Hezbollah no longer poses a threat to northern Israel’s security.

The international community, particularly the United States and France, has consistently called for a truce, expressing concern that continued hostilities could ignite a broader conflict across the Middle East.