All Options Open: Hezbollah's Nasrallah Warns Israel and US in Speech
Nasrallah's Speech Laced With Threats
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November 03, 2023
Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah delivered a fiery speech on November 3, filled with threats and provocative words aimed at Israel and the United States. However, despite the heated rhetoric, this was not a declaration of war speech.
Nasrallah emphasized that Hezbollah's full entry into war with Israel would be determined by the developments in Gaza and whether Israel ceases its attacks on the Palestinian people.
Within the last hour of this report, Israel has ruled out a ceasefire option until all of the hostages are released from the Gaza enclave, the Associated Press reported.
During the hour-and-a-half-long speech, shelling on the Israel-Lebanese border reportedly continued, underscoring the tense situation in the region. Nasrallah addressed his top officers via a remote feed from a secure location in Beirut.
Nasrallah made it clear that all options were on the table for Hezbollah's response to the ongoing conflict. "I assure you all options are open on the southern front. They can be adopted anytime," he declared, as he was quoted by media.
"I assure you it will not be the end, this is not sufficient," Nasrallah added.
He further warned Israel that any strike on Lebanon would be the "most foolish act" in the country's history. Nasrallah also revealed that Hezbollah had received a warning from the United States after October 7th, stating that American ships and warplanes positioned in the Mediterranean would bombard southern Lebanon if Hezbollah fighters escalated attacks on Israel.
However, Nasrallah made it clear that Hezbollah would continue to infiltrate and retaliate based on the principle of "a civilian for a civilian." In other words, their attacks from southern Lebanon would be determined by the intensity of Israel's attacks on Palestinians.
Nasrallah also addressed the prospect of a major regional war, dismissing the threats from the United States:
"To the Americans, I say focusing your threats on Hezbollah and the region are pointless," he stated. He further claimed that the US not only threatened Lebanon but also Iran.
The tensions in the region have been escalating rapidly, with Israel's ongoing attacks on Gaza and the recent violence in Jerusalem fueling the conflict. Nasrallah's speech highlights the delicate balance in the Middle East and the potential for a broader conflict if the situation in Gaza worsens.
As Nasrallah called for an end to the war on Gaza, he warned that Israel must tread carefully to avoid a regional war. The developments in Gaza will determine the trajectory of Hezbollah's involvement, making it crucial for Israel to halt its attacks on the Palestinian people.
The speech also serves as a reminder of the complex dynamics between various actors in the region and the potential for further escalation. The United States' involvement and warnings to Hezbollah only add to the volatility of the situation.
While Nasrallah's speech did not signal an immediate declaration of war, it underscored the seriousness of the situation and the potential for further conflict. As the world watches the developments in Gaza and the Israel-Lebanon border, the region remains on edge, with the outcome uncertain and the risk of a major regional war looming.