Nasrallah: Lebanon Front Active as Long as Gaza War Persists

Hezbollah’s leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, issued a stark warning to Israel on Friday, cautioning that any military action against Lebanon would lead to regret. During his speech commemorating Quds Day, Nasrallah declared Hezbollah’s readiness for conflict, stating, “If they want war, let them come. The Israelis are well aware of what a war with Lebanon entails.”

Nasrallah highlighted that Hezbollah has yet to deploy its main forces or weapons and has not mobilized reserve units, emphasizing a strategic approach to their engagements thus far. He asserted Hezbollah’s preparedness for war, albeit managed through strategic planning and vision.

He reaffirmed Hezbollah’s position, linking the cessation of hostilities in Gaza directly to a cessation on the Lebanese front. Nasrallah maintained that the situation on Lebanon’s front is permanently intertwined with that of Gaza.

He further proclaimed that the “axis of resistance” is on the verge of a significant victory, hinting at an inevitable Iranian response to the recent Israeli airstrike on Iran’s consulate in Damascus. Nasrallah urged readiness for the repercussions of Iran’s anticipated retaliation and the potential Israeli counter-response.

Describing the consulate attack as a turning point with future ramifications, Nasrallah paid tribute to Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a high-ranking Iranian Revolutionary Guard general killed in the airstrike, for his contributions to the resistance movement in Lebanon.

The attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, which resulted in the deaths of seven Revolutionary Guards, including two generals, has been condemned by Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who vowed that Israel would face consequences. While Israel has not officially commented on the attack, it is perceived as an intensification of its efforts against Iran and its allies, potentially escalating to a broader conflict. Following Iran’s threats of retaliation, Israel has bolstered its defenses and temporarily halted leave for combat units.