Hezbollah leader scoffs at Israeli offensive
Nasrallah: Militant group 'will deliver surprises that it promises'

Thursday, July 20, 2006; Posted: 6:49 p.m. EDT (22:49 GMT)

CNN) -- Nine days of Israeli artillery and airstrikes pounding Lebanon failed to dent Hezbollah politically or militarily, the Islamic militia's leader said Thursday, denying Israeli claims to the contrary.

"I can say at this moment, and assure without exaggeration, without psychological warfare, just facts, that the political leadership of Hezbollah has not been harmed," Sheik Hassan Nasrallah said in a Thursday interview with Arabic-language news network Al-Jazeera.

The network released excerpts of the interview, the entirety of which was scheduled to air later Thursday. (Watch Nasrallah promise Hezbollah 'surprises' -- 1:17)

[link to www.cnn.com]