Nearly a month after Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel and the start of Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip, the leader of the Lebanese Shia group Hezbollah (an ally of the Palestinian terror group) broke his silence. Hassan Nasrallah spoke from an unknown location for over an hour to point the finger at the US and warn that the hypothesis of a “total war” has not been completely ruled out. But he made no announcements about concrete plans to draw Lebanon further into the conflict – despite firefights in the border area with Israel.
“America is fully responsible for the current war in Gaza” and the high number of civilian deaths, Nasrallah said, noting that “Israel is just an instrument” in the conflict and that it is “as fragile as a spider’s web” – bearing in mind that the country has not yet succeeded in achieving its objectives in Gaza. “Anyone who wants to prevent a regional war, and this is a message to the Americans, must quickly stop the aggression in Gaza,” he added.
The Hezbollah leader had other messages for the US: “You know very well that if war breaks out in the region, your fleet will be of no use, and air combat will not help either. Your interests, your soldiers and your fleet will be the first to pay the price.”
After the Hamas attack on October 7, the US deployed two aircraft carriers (and their support ships) to the eastern Mediterranean – the USS Gerald R. Ford and the USS Dwight EisenhoweR. There are reportedly approximately 45,000 US military personnel in the Middle East, many of whom are stationed at bases in the Gulf States (Kowait, Bahrain and Qatar). Off the coast of Yemen, another American ship intercepted several drones and missiles launched by the Houthi rebels (also backed by Iran) two weeks ago. The US military has also been the target of attacks in Syria and Iraq.
In Washington, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre responded to Nasrallah’s statements, saying only that Hezbollah “I should not try to take advantage of the ongoing conflict.” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned in Tel Aviv: “We are determined that no second or third front will be opened in this conflict,” recalling that US President Joe Biden “has been against everyone from day one said that think about opening a second front, take advantage of the situation, and don’t do it”.
Long-awaited speech
Thousands of people on the streets of Beirut and Tehran watched the Hezbollah leader’s long-awaited speech, which even prompted Israel to strengthen security at the border. “Some say Hezbollah is about to join the fight. I tell you: we have been involved in this fight since October 8.” he claimed. ‘What is happening for us has not happened since 1948 [o ano da criação do Estado de Israel]even during the July 2006 war,” he added.
Nasrallah explained that the rockets fired daily against northern Israel (usually at military targets) aim to keep Israeli forces in the region, which would otherwise be focused on the Gaza Strip. The escalation of tension at the border has already left eight dead in Israel (seven soldiers and one civilian) and at least 69 in Lebanon, including 55 members of the Lebanese Shiite group but also a Reuters journalist. Nasrallah has already stated that all those killed should be considered “martyrs who fell on the way to Jerusalem.”
“Some would like Hezbollah to unleash all-out war, but I can tell you that what is happening now along the Israeli-Lebanese border is important and not the end.” he said, recalling that “all scenarios are open” on this front and that everything depends “on what happens in Gaza.” Nasrallah also warned Israel against the mistake of launching a pre-emptive offensive against Hezbollah, believing that “this would be the stupidest mistake it would make in its entire existence.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded similarly, asking the Shiite group not to test Israel. “As for the northern front, I repeat to our enemies: make no mistake about us. Such a mistake will be costly. They will pay an unimaginable price,” he said in a video released before the start of the Sabbath.
The last time Hezbollah, a major military and political force in Lebanon (it has two ministers in the current interim government), was at war with Israel was precisely in 2006. The conflict was caused by an incursion by Hezbollah militants into territory in which two Israeli soldiers were kidnapped. The Shiite group demanded the release of Lebanese prisoners in return, but Israel rejected this after bombing Lebanon and invading the south of the country. The war lasted just over a month until a ceasefire was reached with UN support.
Hezbollah, founded in the early 1980s with the backing of Iran to serve as a counterforce to Israel (which occupied southern Lebanon at the time and eventually left in 2000), has increased the number of militants since the 2006 war and created more and better achievements acquired. weapons. The European Union has been discussing for years the possibility of including the group in the list of terrorist organizations, which only includes the ‘armed wing’ – although Hezbollah makes no distinction whatsoever.
Nasrallah, the powerful Shiite cleric who has led the group since 1992 but has not been seen in public for years for security reasons, called Hamas’s attack “heroic” on Friday., which caused the deaths of 1,400 people in Israel. The Hezbollah leader claimed this was “100% Palestinian”, explaining that the operation was organized with such secrecy that other “resistance groups” were not informed.
The cleric explained that the Shia group’s two goals are to end the war and “let the resistance triumph,” as “the victory of Gaza means the victory of the Palestinian people.” Something that, he added, would be in the interests of Egypt, Jordan, Syria and also Lebanon. That is why he called on Arab countries to cut off supplies of gas, oil and even food to Israel.
Aid in Lebanon
According to Al-Jazeera, celebratory gunshots were heard in Beirut, where thousands filled a square on the southern outskirts of the Lebanese capital to hear the speech, as well as in the south of the country and in the Bekaa Valley – three areas where Hezbollah has strong support of the population. But for many, the moment was also one of relief, as Nasrallah had not announced open conflict with Israel.
The Lebanese political class, including interim Prime Minister Najib Mikati (the country has been without a president for more than a year after the end of Michel Aoun’s term), has talked about avoiding open war with the Israelis. However, many are aware that the decision lies with Nasrallah.
Source: DN
