The leader of Hezbollah in Lebanon, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, issued a warning to the United States on Friday, stating that preventing a regional war hinged on putting an end to Israel’s attack on Gaza. Nasrallah also suggested that there was a realistic possibility of the fighting in Lebanon escalating into a “wide war.” This marked Nasrallah’s first speech since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7. Additionally, he issued a threat to the United States, implying that his Iran-backed group was prepared to confront American warships in the Mediterranean.
Nasrallah addressed the Americans directly, urging them to halt the aggression against Gaza, as it was their aggression. He emphasized that preventing a regional war was contingent on stopping the attacks on Gaza. Nasrallah warned that if a war were to break out in the region, American fleets and airstrikes would be of no use, and the ones to bear the consequences would be the US interests, soldiers, and fleets.
Furthermore, Nasrallah dismissed any fears of facing US warships in the Mediterranean, stating that Hezbollah had made adequate preparations to counter such threats. He assured his sincerity in this matter and explained that his group was ready to confront any American fleets that posed a threat.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas has resulted in a devastating siege on Gaza, which began with a cross-border assault by Hamas militants on October 7. This assault led to the deaths of approximately 1,400 people, with around 240 individuals being taken hostage and brought back to Gaza. According to Gaza health authorities, at least 9,227 people, including many women and children, have been killed since the start of Israel’s blitz on the densely populated coastal enclave.
Since the outbreak of the Gaza war, Hezbollah, a powerful military force supported by Iran, has been engaged in confrontations with Israeli forces along the Lebanon-Israel border. These clashes represent the deadliest escalation since the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel. Nasrallah highlighted that Hezbollah’s actions on the Lebanese front were escalating day by day, diverting Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank to the southwest.
Nasrallah emphasized that the future of the Lebanese front would depend on the developments in Gaza and Israel’s actions in Lebanon. The situation remains tense as both sides continue to exchange hostilities.
This article was reported by Laila Bassam, Tom Perry, and Riham al Koussa, written by Nadine Awadalla, and edited by Michael Georgy, Angus MacSwan, Tomasz Janowski, and Mark Heinrich.
