Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah during his speech. Screengrab, via Al-Manar TV.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah warned the United States on November 3 that preventing a regional conflict depended on stopping the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, and there was a realistic possibility of the clashes on the Lebanese front turning into a “wide war”.
In his first speech since the Israel-Hamas war erupted on October 7, the Lebanese leader also revealed threats by Washington and said that his group was ready to confront U.S. carrier strike groups recently deployed in the eastern Mediterranean to support Israel.
“Since the outbreak of the war, the U.S. has threatened to bomb us in Lebanon from its military ships in the Mediterranean. We are prepared for whatever scenario,” Nasrallah said. “If an all-out war breaks out, you Americans will pay with your ships, your aircrafts and your soldiers.”
Nasrallah also called on the U.S. to remember its “defeats in Lebanon and Iraq” and its “humiliating withdrawal from Afghanistan”, warning that those who “defeated” American troops in Lebanon in the 1980s are “still alive and their children and grandchildren are ready” for a new confrontation.
“Your fleet in the Mediterranean does not scare us … We are ready to face the fleet you threaten us with,” Nasrallah says, addressing the US. “Whoever wants to prevent a regional war must quickly stop the aggression on Gaza,” he added.
Following up on previous statements in which he placed the blame on the U.S. for backing Israel, Nasrallah says: “Only you Americans can end what is happening now in Gaza, since you started it.”
Nasrallah also warned Israel not to launch a preemptive offensive against Lebanon, without detailing how Hezbollah would respond.
“I tell the Israelis, if you are considering carrying out a preemptive attack against Lebanon, it will be the most foolish mistake you make in your entire existence,” he said.
The leader went on to stress that Hezbollah will not change its course because of threats, saying that the only factor that will affect the group’s position is the progression of the war.
“I tell Israel: Do not go any further. Many civilians have already died. I promise you: A civilian for a civilian,” Nasrallah warned.
Hezbollah and its allies, including the Hamas Movement and other Palestinian armed factions, have launched dozens of attacks from southern Lebanon since the war in Gaza broke out. On November 2, the group carried out its first drone attack wounding two Israeli soldiers.
Clashes on the Lebanese front have so far claimed the lives of 52 fighters of Hezbollah and two others from the affiliated Lebanese Resistance Brigades. Four fighters from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and three others from Hamas were also killed. In addition, seven Lebanese civilians were killed. On the other side, Israel lost six soldiers and two civilians.
While Nasrallah’s remarks reflected Hezbollah willingness to accept a declaration that is linked to a ceasefire in Gaza, it was clear about the group’s readiness to any major confrontation with Israel or even the U.S. Hezbollah is clearly making efforts to spare crisi-hit Lebanon a devastating war. However, it is wrong to consider the group to be “deterred” as senior Israeli officials claim.
Right before Nasrallah’s speech, Hezbollah announced an attack against a gathering of Israeli troops at Mitat military site near the town of Rmeish.
