Hezbollah Threatens Israel Following Death of Hamas Official
Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has issued a bold warning to Israel, stating that Lebanon would be at risk of Israeli attacks if his group does not respond to the alleged assassination of a senior Hamas official in Beirut.
According to Nasrallah, Deputy Hamas leader Saleh Arouri and three others were killed in an airstrike in Beirut on Tuesday. While Hezbollah media blamed Israel for the attack, Israeli officials have denied any involvement.
During a televised address, Nasrallah stated, “This means that all of Lebanon will become exposed, all cities, villages, and figures will become exposed.”
Hezbollah has been in support of Hamas, launching rockets at Israeli military posts along Israel’s northern border since October 8. Nasrallah claims that Hezbollah has carried out 670 military operations on the Israeli-Lebanese border over the past three months, destroying a significant number of Israeli military vehicles and tanks.
Addressing the potential of an expanded conflict, Nasrallah warned that residents of northern Israel would be the first to suffer the consequences.
The Hezbollah leader also took the opportunity to mention Israel’s control over Lebanese territory, including the Shebaa Farms and the town of Ghajar, stating that the end of the Gaza war could present a “historic opportunity” for Lebanon.
Israeli officials have denied any involvement in the airstrike that killed Arouri, stating that it was not an attack against the Lebanese state or even the Hezbollah terrorist organization. In response to the denial, Nasrallah issued a warning, stating, “Whoever thinks of war with us — in one word, he will regret it.”
Following the death of a top Hamas official, tensions between Israel and Hezbollah are at an all-time high, with the potential for a dangerous escalation in hostilities on the horizon.