Hezbollah leader threatens retaliation after Israeli strikes
A man holds Hezbollah and Palestinian flags as Hezbollah supporters protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Beirut, Lebanon, October 27, 2023. (Reuters Photo)
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah announced on Tuesday his group’s intention to retaliate against Israel following the recent deaths of two prominent figures in separate attacks. Nasrallah’s remarks came during a video conference marking the seventh day since the killing of Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr.
The conflict escalated on July 30 when an Israeli airstrike targeted the southern suburbs of Beirut, killing Shukr, an Iranian military adviser, and five civilians. This was followed by the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, an act Nasrallah attributed to Israel, although Israel has not confirmed responsibility.
Nasrallah declared that Hezbollah, either alone or in coordination with other Iran-backed groups such as the Houthis in Yemen and Shiite militias in Iraq, will respond with strength and effectiveness. He stated that “Israel’s waiting for a week is part of the punishment, part of the response, part of the battle.”
The Hezbollah leader criticized the United States for its attempts to mediate the situation, accusing Washington of deceit and hypocrisy in its dealings with Iran and Lebanon. Nasrallah described the conflict as part of a broader struggle to prevent Israel from achieving victory and eliminating Palestinian resistance.
As tensions escalate, with daily cross-border exchanges and concerns about a wider regional conflict, the U.S. has increased its military presence in the region and is working to prevent a full-scale war.
