Hezbollah leader warns Israel. Israel responds brusquely
The leader of Hezbollah cautions that an assault on Lebanon would constitute Israel's "gravest blunder." Hezbollah forces have been regularly engaging in skirmishes along the Israel-Lebanon border since the onset of the conflict with Hamas. Hassan Nasrallah, the group's leader, previously hinted that these skirmishes could escalate. Israel has responded vehemently to his assertions.
According to Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the radical Shiite group Hezbollah, the Hamas attack on October 7 was entirely a "Palestinian operation," while the responsibility for the war in Gaza lies solely on the United States.
"The decision about the Hamas terror attack on Israel on October 7 was right, wise, and audacious," Nasrallah stated in a televised address, his first since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas conflict. He suggested that the discretion of operation — unknown to the so-called 'axis of resistance' — bolstered the fact that "this battle is purely Palestinian."
Israel's Response
While Hezbollah's chief was addressing Lebanon, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Hezbollah not to challenge Israel and stated that any provocation would result in significant retribution.
"I urge our enemies from the north not to provoke us for fear of profound repercussions", the Israeli premier said.
Netanyahu also emphasized that there would be no truce with Hamas until the release of over 240 Israeli hostages and pledged to persist with operations in Gaza.
"Israel rejects any temporary ceasefire that does not encompass the return of our hostages", he asserted.
He further highlighted that the nation's military is operating at full capacity across all fronts.
Lebanese Public Rally to Hear Hezbollah Leader's Address
In Lebanon, residents congregated to listen to the Hezbollah Secretary-General together. In the southern outskirts of Beirut, thousands of supporters brandishing Palestinian flags and posters of the leader chanted "God, bless Nasrallah," as observed by the DPA agency.
Analysts believe that the Hezbollah Shiite leader's speech may hint at the group's forthcoming course of action amid the war in the Gaza Strip. Concerns have arisen over a potential second front opening along Israel's border with Lebanon since the conflict started with Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7. Daily gunfire exchanges occur in this region. In recent weeks, Hamas representatives have expressed hopes for Hezbollah's heightened involvement in the conflict with Israel.
In mid-October, the United States deployed a military strike group to the eastern Mediterranean region, seeking to deter Hezbollah and its supporter, Iran, from fully entering the conflict.
Assuring the preparedness to defend, the Israeli military spokesman, Richard Hecht, stated on Friday that the units stationed on the Lebanon border were "ready." He then appealed to the Lebanese people not to compromise their future for Hamas.
