Hezbollah’s chief, Hassan Nasrallah, has issued a severe warning to Israel, threatening an unrestricted and boundless war if Israel launches a significant offensive against Lebanon. Nasrallah’s statement highlights escalating tensions at the Lebanon-Israel border, as Israeli officials continue to assert their readiness for an all-out war with Hezbollah. Nasrallah’s address was delivered via video, responding to increased threats from Israel. He emphasized that Israel should be the one fearing the potential for conflict. His remarks followed Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz’s assertion that a significant conflict with Hezbollah could lead to the group’s destruction and severe damage to Lebanon. Katz indicated that while Israel would suffer on both the front and home fronts, the Israeli military’s full power would restore security for the northern residents.
Nasrallah underscored Hezbollah’s enhanced military capabilities, including new weaponry and an abundance of locally manufactured drones. He conveyed confidence in Hezbollah’s preparedness for challenging days ahead, stating that Israel is well aware of the formidable resistance it would face. Nasrallah warned that in the event of war, no part of Israel would be spared from Hezbollah’s targeted rocket and drone attacks.
He further suggested the possibility of Hezbollah sending ground forces into Israeli territory, a prospect that he claimed has instilled fear in Israel. Nasrallah asserted that this invasion remains a standing possibility if a war is imposed on Lebanon.
Hezbollah’s involvement in the conflict began the day after the outbreak of the war on Gaza on October 7. The organization attacked military bases in northern Israel, positioning these actions as a support front to assist Palestinian armed groups. Nasrallah emphasized that Hezbollah’s activities on the Lebanese front are drawing Israeli military resources away from Gaza and are integral to the broader confrontation against Israel.
Nasrallah also extended his warnings to Cyprus, an EU member in the eastern Mediterranean. He claimed that Israel is conducting military exercises in Cyprus on terrains similar to southern Lebanon and plans to use Cypriot airports and bases for military operations if its infrastructure is attacked. Nasrallah stated that if Cyprus allows its facilities to be used by Israel for attacks on Lebanon, Hezbollah would consider Cyprus a part of the conflict and respond accordingly.
Hezbollah has threatened to open a naval front against Israel in the Mediterranean and has pledged to continue its attacks on Israeli targets. Nasrallah declared that the solution to the ongoing crisis is straightforward: Israel must end its war on Gaza. Since the conflict’s onset, more than 37,000 people have died in Gaza due to Israeli assaults, according to Palestinian health officials. Israel launched the war following an attack by Hamas on southern Israel on October 7, which resulted in over 1,139 Israeli deaths and around 250 captives being taken by Hamas, based on an Al Jazeera tally using Israeli statistics. Nasrallah defended Hamas’s demands regarding a multiphase proposal led by the United States, aimed at achieving an “enduring ceasefire.” He criticized the US plan for having an apparent loophole that would allow Israel to resume its offensive after the first phase, which involves releasing some Israeli captives held by Hamas. Nasrallah’s statements reflect the ongoing high-stakes and volatile situation in the region.
