Escalation Threats from Hezbollah’s Leader Amidst Ongoing Israel-Hamas Conflict

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The leader of the militant group Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, announced on Friday that his group is already actively involved in significant cross-border conflict with Israel on the Lebanese frontier. Nasrallah’s comments, broadcasted live, signaled a potential intensification of hostilities concurrent with the month-long war between Israel and Hamas.

In his televised address — marking his first public remarks since the hostilities initiated by Hamas’s lethal incursion into southern Israel on October 7 — Nasrallah did not commit to a full-scale involvement of his militia in the conflict. However, he implied that such involvement could wreak havoc on both Lebanon and Israel.

The United States, a key ally of Israel, has cautioned Hezbollah and its Iranian sponsors against joining the conflict and has dispatched naval vessels to the Mediterranean Sea. This show of force, according to Nasrallah, is not a deterrent, stating unequivocally that Hezbollah is ready for any scenario and could escalate its response at any time. He emphasized that the combat along the Lebanon-Israel border could surpass current levels.

Israel-Hamas Conflict Deepens

The U.S. House has approved nearly $14.5 billion in military assistance for Israel, despite President Biden’s opposition to the proposed GOP strategy. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is calling for humanitarian aid to civilians as Israeli forces increase pressure on Gaza City. Amidst the concentrated Israeli offensive, Palestinians in northern Gaza face dire conditions.

Hezbollah has been actively launching rockets into northern Israel, primarily targeting military sites. Their arsenal is considerable and capable of striking throughout Israel, and their fighters are experienced in combat.

The anticipation for Nasrallah’s speech was high, as it was expected to provide insights into whether the conflict between Israel and Hamas would expand into a broader regional war.

Nasrallah on Friday stated, “We have been part of this battle since October 8.” He contended that Hezbollah’s actions have drawn Israeli resources away from the conflict with Hamas in Gaza.

The speech, which was broadcast on a large screen to thousands in Beirut, followed the most significant spike in hostilities along the Israel-Lebanon border since the war’s inception. This included a barrage of mortar and anti-tank missile fire, as well as the unprecedented use of suicide drones by Hezbollah.

During Blinken’s visit to Israel, he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss civilian protection amidst the conflict with Hamas, as the Israeli military intensified its siege around Gaza City.

Nasrallah condemned the U.S.’s staunch support for Israel and the devastating toll of the Gaza bombardment, which has resulted in over 9,000 deaths, the majority being civilians. While U.S. representatives have increasingly emphasized civilian protection, they have stopped short of calling for a ceasefire.

He heavily criticized President Biden for what he called a baseless accusation against Hamas and highlighted the silence over the children in Gaza affected by Israeli attacks.

Nasrallah acknowledged Hamas’s attacks into Israel, which resulted in more than 1,400 fatalities, portraying it as evidence of Israel’s vulnerability. He claimed that after a month, Israel had failed to achieve significant military success.

Yet, Nasrallah made it clear that Hezbollah was not involved in planning Hamas’s operation, describing it as a Palestinian initiative.

With Hamas under severe Israeli attack, their leaders have openly sought Hezbollah’s greater involvement in the conflict. Nasrallah’s recent meetings in Beirut with Hamas and Islamic Jihad representatives underscore the delicate situation.

Hezbollah has so far remained ambiguous about the conditions that would draw them fully into the conflict, choosing instead to engage in actions that keep Israeli forces occupied along the Lebanon border without sparking a full-scale war.

The Israeli military reported casualties on their side, including seven soldiers and one civilian. On the Lebanese front, fatalities include over 50 Hezbollah combatants, fighters from allied groups, and civilians, among them a journalist from Reuters.

Netanyahu issued a stern warning to Hezbollah, suggesting that any miscalculation on their part could result in dire consequences.

Israel regards the Iranian-supported Hezbollah as a significant threat, with a substantial inventory of rockets and missiles directed at Israel, in addition to drones and advanced missile capabilities.

A full-blown war would not only be detrimental for Israel but would also have serious repercussions for Hezbollah. The group’s extensive conflict with Israel in 2006 ended inconclusively, with considerable damage inflicted upon Lebanon. Any new conflict would likely have a profound impact, particularly during Lebanon’s severe economic crisis.

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Reporters Bassem Mroue and Kareem Chehayeb from Beirut and Josef Federman from Jerusalem have contributed to this report for Big Big News.

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