Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah warned on Friday that the war between Israel and Hamas could escalate into a regional conflict. He highlighted that all options are now open for the conflict to expand, allowing Lebanon to enter the frame. People from the intelligence community told CNN-News18 that the speech was more of a “religious fatwa, not a military order”.
It should be noted that the US and Israel-designated terrorist group maintains a robust military wing and concurrently operates a political party, exercising considerable influence within Lebanon.
Nasrallah in his speech gave formal approval for action but left it up to the military of the nation to decide on the timing to escalate, even though it remains significantly more powerful than the Lebanese military.
“I say to our people in Gaza and the West Bank and to all oppressed peoples that patience will result in victory. We bear responsibility, and our steadfastness and patience will result in certain victory, God willing. We have a belief in God’s promise, that he will make the believers victorious,” he said while addressing his supporters.
A 2018 report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies called it “the world’s most heavily armed non-state actor.”
Nasrallah also accused the US for escalating and widening the scope of the conflict. “Whoever wants to prevent a regional war — and this is addressed to the Americans — must quickly stop the aggression on Gaza. America is entirely responsible for the ongoing war on Gaza and its people, and Israel is simply a tool of execution,” Nasrallah said in his speech.
“We must work for Gaza to be victorious and for the resistance to be victorious in Gaza. We still need time, but we will win with points. This is how we won in 2006 in Gaza, and this is how the resistance in the West Bank achieved achievements,” Nasrallah said.
People mentioned above said that as Israel is getting support from the US, Hezbollah may decide to open a new front against Israel when they feel Israel is sufficiently weakened to not be able to respond to a huge missile attack.
They said that Hezbollah could use Yemeni Houthi rebel-terrorists and other militias to cause distraction and damage and pause until Israel has entered deeper into Gaza Strip.
The officials highlighted that Hamas is not yet desperate or seeking help and its main local leaders remain out of sight.
“We are still in early stages. Until Hamas shows signs of desperation and/or Israel is in a weaker position, there are chances of more attacks from Houthis,” the people mentioned above said.
They also said that there is also a big question mark on Israel’s military objectives and that of destroying the entire leadership of Hamas.
Nasrallah in his speech riled up supporters of the terrorist group by asking them to show their strength by “great willingness to sacrifice”. “The battle for al-Aqsa will be fought on more than one front and from more than one arena,” the Hezbollah chief said.
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