Nasrallah Warns Israel to Stop Targeting Civilians

Hezbollah to Hit Settlements Not Targeted Yet

Date: 17 July 2024 - 21:36

News ID: ۱۲۹۴۶۶

BEIRUT (Dispatches) --
Hezbollah will hit new Israeli targets if the Zionist regime keeps targeting civilians in Lebanon, the movement’s leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said on Wednesday.
Five civilians, all Syrians and including three children, were martyred in Israeli strikes in Lebanon on Tuesday and at least three Lebanese civilians were martyred the day before, according to state media and security sources.
“Continuing to target civilians will push the Resistance to launch missiles at settlements that were not previously targeted,” Nasrallah said, in comments made during a televised address to mark the holy day of Ashura.
Hezbollah, the most powerful military and political force in Lebanon, refers to all Israeli population centers as settlements and does not recognize Israel.
Israel and Hezbollah have been trading fire since Hezbollah announced a “support front” with Palestinians shortly after Hamas carried out a landmark operation inside southern Israeli settlements on Oct. 7, after which the Zionist regime launched a ferocious invasion of Gaza.
Nasrallah vowed that destroyed homes would be rebuilt.
He was speaking via video link to tens of thousands of mourners gathered in southern Beirut to mark Ahsura.
The annual period of mourning to commemorate the 7th century martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS), a grandson of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him), is often a moment for Hezbollah to reiterate its allegiance to the path of resistance.
Mourners clad in black marched and many carried images of Hezbollah fighters martyred by Israel in more than nine months of fighting.
To maintain security, hundreds of Hezbollah members were deployed at checkpoints, mounted on motorbikes and positioned on rooftops, including with new weapons including technology that sources familiar with the matter said could interfere with and down drones.
This year, processions in southern Lebanon were cancelled due to the clashes with Israel.
Fears have grown in recent weeks among international observers that Israel may expand its invasion in Lebanon, risking a wider war.
“If your tanks come to Lebanon and south Lebanon, you will not have a shortage of tanks, as you will no longer have any tanks left,” Nasrallah said Wednesday, addressing Israel.
Nasrallah noted how Hezbollah’s operations had exacted a heavy toll on the regime.
“The toll includes 9,254 individuals, among them officers and soldiers, with 3,000 amputees, 650
paralyzed, 185 completely blind, and several thousands suffering severe psychological trauma,” he said.
“Our front in Lebanon will remain active as long as the aggression against Gaza, its people, and its resistance continues in all its forms,” Nasrallah asserted.
He recalled how resistance groups hailing from Yemen and Iraq have joined launching similar retaliatory operations against the Zionist regime.
He also hailed Yemeni operations targeting Israeli ships and vessels heading towards the Israeli ports in the occupied Palestinian territories.
“Yemen has successfully imposed a blockade on the port of Eilat, leading to its declaration of bankruptcy and causing shipping prices to soar highly. This has had serious repercussions for the entity,” Nasrallah said.
“For the first time…, the Israeli entity is experiencing its worst days. For the first time, Israel appears unable to achieve its goals and is attempting to cover up its failures by committing massacres and killing civilians,” he said.
The regime, he added, is “suffering across multiple fronts: Its army, security service ... political parties, immigration, self-confidence, the people’s confidence in staying, and the world’s view of it.”
“This is the result of relentless fighting and steadfastness.”
Elsewhere in his remarks, Nasralleh held the United States fully responsible for the deadly aggression that was being waged by the regime against Gaza, citing Washington’s unreserved arms support for Tel Aviv.