In his latest address, Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah warned of the potential for a broader conflict in the Middle East amidst the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. This was Nasrallah’s first public speech since the conflict began and was highly anticipated for clues on Hezbollah’s next moves.
Known as a formidable military force with the backing of Iran, Hezbollah has increasingly engaged with Israeli forces along the Lebanon-Israel border. This represents the most significant escalation since their 2006 war with Israel. Nasrallah highlighted that these engagements, while seemingly minor, hold great significance. Due to this escalation, Israel has had to divert its forces to the Lebanese border instead of focusing solely on the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank.
US Involvement and Regional Alliances
Nasrallah laid blame on the United States for both the Gaza war and the subsequent civilian casualties. He stressed the importance of de-escalation in Gaza to avert a larger regional conflict. Expressing gratitude towards regional allies, Nasrallah mentioned the “Axis of Resistance” – a coalition that includes Shia Muslim Iraqi militias and Yemen’s Houthis. These groups have actively participated in regional hostilities, targeting US forces in Syria and Iraq and launching drone attacks against Israel.
Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah commented that Hamas’ unexpected attack on Israel on October 7 was entirely a Palestinian initiative, according to a Reuters report.
Nasrallah expressed gratitude to groups from Yemen and Iraq that are members of the “Axis of Resistance.” He emphasized that the October 7th operation created significant upheaval in Israel, revealing its vulnerabilities.
During an event honouring fighters who were killed in recent clashes with Israel, Nasrallah addressed his supporters via a screen in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, on November 3.
More to follow ………