In a fiery and provocative speech broadcasted on Wednesday, Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Lebanon’s Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group, issued a dire warning to Israel. Nasrallah declared that Hezbollah would target new Israeli towns if the Israeli military continued its operations in southern Lebanon. Considering that Israeli operations are typically in response to Hezbollah rockets, drones and anti-tank missile strikes inside of Israel, which means Nasrallah was threatening Israel for defending itself. Hezbollah has fired thousands of projectiles at Israeli communities since October 2023.
Marking the Shiite day of mourning, Ashura, Nasrallah’s televised address came amid heightened tensions and increased exchanges of fire along the Israeli-Lebanese border. This escalation raised fears of the conflict expanding beyond Gaza into a broader regional war.
“If Israeli tanks come to Lebanon, they will not only face a shortage but will have no tanks left,” Nasrallah boasted. “Our resistance missiles will strike new Israeli settlements that have never been targeted before.”
He’s showing fear.
— Shiri_Sabra (@sabra_the) July 17, 2024
The Lebanese economy is the one that is crashing...
Nasrallah threatens: We will attack towns which have not yet been hit. 'Cost of living in Israel, collapsing Israeli economy, show the fruits of our pressure,' Nasrallah claims.https://t.co/ScpcEYIXHz pic.twitter.com/tLFGRr3eTD
The renewed fighting on Israel's northern border began immediately following Hamas’s brutal October 7 attack on Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip. In solidarity with Hamas, Hezbollah launched rockets, leading to a tragic loss of Israeli civilian lives, devastating damages to agricultural and dairy farms, and the forced evacuation of Israelis living close to the Lebanese border.
Israeli military leaders, who have been meticulously planning a potential offensive in Lebanon for months, have stated their preference for a diplomatic resolution. However, Hezbollah insists it will not cease its attacks until a cease-fire is achieved in Gaza. “Our front in Lebanon will not stop as long as the aggression against Gaza, its people, and resistance in its various forms continues,” Nasrallah affirmed.
After Iran’s Hezbollah fired over 85 rockets at Israel yesterday, its terror chief Hassan Nasrallah delivered a belligerent speech this morning, threatening to strike “communities that haven’t yet been attacked.” pic.twitter.com/OvATMVwfKy
— Israel War Room (@IsraelWarRoom) July 17, 2024
Nasrallah's speech exuded triumphalism as he claimed Israel’s economy was suffering due to attacks on shipping in the Red Sea by the Iranian-aligned Houthi movement in Yemen. He further alleged that thousands of Israeli soldiers had sustained debilitating injuries.
Fact: The State of Israel has revealed only about 20% of its advanced technology and weaponry, which is specifically reserved for Nasrallah and Hezbollah. pic.twitter.com/t6OxYAqE5k
— 🇮🇱 daniel hanoka (@daniel02667) July 15, 2024
According to Israeli casualty reports, more than 4,000 troops have been injured, with over 600 suffering serious injuries.
The overnight exchanges of fire saw Hezbollah launching approximately 65 projectiles into Israeli territory. Israel's air defenses neutralized most of these attacks, with no injuries reported. In retaliation, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) struck several Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon.
In the past month, multiple Hezbollah commanders have been killed by the IDF, triggering heavy rocket barrages from the militant group in retaliation.
#Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah tells #Israel if its tanks enter south Lebanon they will be destroyed. pic.twitter.com/PTAJoEm4dq
— Nabih (@nabihbulos) July 17, 2024
These ongoing skirmishes at the Israel-Lebanon border and Hezbollah’s escalating threats come at a time when the Israeli military is stretched thin, managing multiple fronts. Any ground incursion into Lebanon would involve confronting Hezbollah, a force significantly larger and better equipped than the adversaries in Gaza.
On October 7, Hamas and other militant groups, including Hezbollah, executed a meticulously planned assault against Israeli civilians. Human Rights Watch, in a report released Wednesday, described the attack as “systematic,” involving numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity. The report detailed “deliberate and indiscriminate attacks against civilians,” the use of civilians as human shields, and acts of cruel and inhumane treatment.
As the situation remains volatile, the potential for broader conflict looms, threatening to engulf the region in even more devastating violence.
