BEIRUT: Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, speaking for the first time since the Israel-Hamas war erupted, warned on Friday that a wider conflict in the Middle East was a realistic possibility in a speech that was expected to indicate whether his group would wage a full-fledged war against Israel.
A formidable military force backed by Iran, Hezbollah has been engaging Israeli forces along the Lebanon-Israel border in the deadliest escalation since it fought a war with Israel in 2006.
Hezbollah have been escalating day by day, forcing Israel to keep its forces near the Lebanese border instead of the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, Nasrallah said in a televised address.
“What’s happening on the border might seem modest but is very important.”
Nasrallah blamed the United States for the war in Gaza and the high civilian death toll and that a de-escalation in the besieged enclave was vital to prevent regional war.
The Hezbollah chief thanked groups in Yemen and Iraq, part of what is known as the “Axis of Resistance”. It includes Shia Muslims Iraqi militias, which have been firing at US forces in Syria and Iraq, and Yemen’s Houthis, who have joined in the conflict by firing drones at Israel.
He accused the US for war breaking out between Hamas and Israel, saying the US was entirely responsible for the war in Gaza and calling Israel merely ‘an executive tool’.
In the televised speech, the Hezbollah chief said that the Al-Aqsa Storm battle has extended to more than one front. This decision to launch the operation was 100% Palestinian, its owners hid it from everyone, he added.
“There had to be a major event that would shake the usurping entity and its supporters in Washington and London and this is when the blessed operation of the October 7 took place.”
“We thank the Iraqi, Yemeni hands that joined this battle,” said Nasrullah. The secrecy of this operation did not upset anyone in the resistance axis, he added. This battle is completely Palestinian, for Palestinian people, has no relation to any regional issue, Nasrullah reiterated.
Nasrullah added that the October 7 attack led to an earthquake in Israel, revealing Israel’s weaknesses.
He added that “conditions in Palestine in recent years have been extremely harsh, especially with this extremist, foolish, stupid, and savage government.”
“This is a seamless battle at the human, ethical and religious levels. It’s the most evident, the most honest and the most noble.
“Our true strength lies in our firm belief, unshaken conviction, our devotion and commitment to the cause.”
Nasrullah said what happened confirms that Iran does not exercise any guardianship at all over the resistance factions and the real decision-makers are the leaders of the resistance. Nothing even started and we see countries around the world sending their presidents, their ministers, their generals, their arsenals, and their billions to support this illegitimate entity, he added.
“One of the biggest mistakes Israel is making now is setting goals that it cannot achieve.”
Nasrallah said Israel can get back the captives held in Gaza through negotiations. He adds that what is happening in Gaza shows Israel’s foolishness and inability because what they are doing is killing children and women.
The Hezbollah leader calls Israel “frail”, and says for a whole month it could not offer a single military achievement. He called the Palestinian group’s decision to launch the Al-Aqsa Storm right, wise and courageous, adding that it came at the right timing.
The Hezbollah leader calls what’s happening now in Gaza a decisive battle that it’s not like previous wars. He says this requires everyone to bear responsibility.
Nasrallah also outlines two goals: the first is to stop the war in Gaza and the second is for Hamas to be victorious in this war.
