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Leader of Lebanon’s Hezbollah warns group is ready for war with Israel Leader of Lebanon’s Hezbollah warns group is ready for war with Israel
(about 4 hours later)
BEIRUT — The leader of Lebanon’s Hezbollah group issued a stern warning to Israel during a defiant address Friday that also sought to reassure the group’s supporters days after intense clashes with the Israeli military raised fears of war. BEIRUT — The leader of Hezbollah warned Israel on Friday that the Shiite movement was unafraid of war, just days after intense clashes in the border zone raised fears that a major conflict could erupt.
Hasan Nasrallah told supporters that the Shiite movement carefully planned the attack Wednesday that killed two Israeli soldiers in the border zone with Lebanon. In the televised speech, he described the attack as retaliation for an alleged Israeli assault Jan. 18 in southern Syria that killed six Hezbollah militants and an Iranian general — an act that he called an “assassination.” Hasan Nasrallah told supporters that his movement carefully planned the missile strike Wednesday that killed two Israeli soldiers. In the televised speech, he described the attack as retaliation for an alleged Israeli raid Jan. 18 in southern Syria that killed six Hezbollah militants and an Iranian general — an act that he called an “assassination.”
“The Israelis must understand very well that this resistance is not deterred,” he said, before warning Israel directly: “You tried us. Don’t try us again.”“The Israelis must understand very well that this resistance is not deterred,” he said, before warning Israel directly: “You tried us. Don’t try us again.”
Nasrallah’s speech comes as tensions still run high over Wednesday’s attack, which also killed a Spanish U.N. peacekeeper. Wednesday’s attack prompted an exchange of fire that also killed a Spanish U.N. peacekeeper.
The recent violence harkens back to 2006 and incidents along the volatile Lebanon-Israel boundary, which sparked a 34-day war that killed more than 1,000 Lebanese and 165 Israelis. In 2006, the two sides fought a 34-day war along the Lebanon-Israel border that left more than 1,000 Lebanese and 165 Israelis dead.
After Wednesday’s attack, both sides have backed down from further escalation, but Nasrallah did not mince words when he vowed in his speech that, although Hezbollah does not seek a new war, his group’s fighters are prepared. Since Wednesday, there have been no further hostilities reported. But Nasrallah said that while Hezbollah does not seek a new conflict, its fighters are prepared.
“We are not afraid of war. We will fight this war. We will achieve victory, God willing,” he said, labeling Israel a “tumor, a terrorist state, a hostile entity, a bacteria of corruption.”“We are not afraid of war. We will fight this war. We will achieve victory, God willing,” he said, labeling Israel a “tumor, a terrorist state, a hostile entity, a bacteria of corruption.”
There was no immediate reaction to the speech by Israel.There was no immediate reaction to the speech by Israel.
Nasrallah’s speech comes as Hezbollah militants fight in Syria against the opposition to President Bashar al-Assad. Although the group does not disclose figures on casualties sustained in Syria, analysts give varying estimates on the number of Hezbollah fighters killed over the border that range from the mid-hundreds to as many as 1,000. Nasrallah’s speech comes as Hezbollah militants are fighting in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the civil war in the neighboring country. Although the Lebanese group does not disclose figures on casualties sustained in Syria, analysts say hundreds of its fighters have been killed there.
Sustaining large deployments of fighters in both Syria and against Israel appears to have placed significant stress on the organization, which was founded in the turmoil following the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982. Hezbollah, which was founded in the turmoil that followed the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982, appears to be facing significant stress because of its Syria deployment.
“The main objective of Nasrallah’s speech is obviously to lift the morale and feeling of his supporters and fighters,” said Mustafa Allouch, a former Lebanese parliamentarian and critic of Hezbollah. He said that the fighting in Syria had made the group “much weaker.” “The main objective of Nasrallah’s speech is obviously to lift the morale and feeling of his supporters and fighters,” said Mustafa Allouch, a former Lebanese parliamentarian and critic of Hezbollah. He said the fighting in Syria had made the group “much weaker.”
Others see the group’s huge arsenal of rockets and trained fighters as a growing deterrent to Israel. Mohammed Obeid, a Lebanese analyst who is close to Hezbollah, said the Nasrallah speech indicated that the group is ready to expand the fight with Israel beyond Lebanon and into Syria. But others see the group’s huge arsenal of rockets and trained fighters as a growing issue for Israel. Mohammed Obeid, a Lebanese analyst who is close to Hezbollah, said the Nasrallah speech indicated that the group is ready to expand the fight with Israel into Syria.
“He wanted to make it clear that if the resistance came under any attack, it is free to retaliate without any considerations regarding borders,” he said. That includes staging attacks from both Lebanon and Syria, he added. “He wanted to make it clear that if the resistance came under any attack, it is free to retaliate without any considerations regarding borders,” Obeid said. That means staging attacks from Lebanon and Syria, he said.
In his speech, Nasrallah referred to the Jan. 18 attack as “Iranian and Lebanese blood being mixed on Syrian soil.” In his speech, Nasrallah referred to the Jan. 18 attack as “Iranian and Lebanese blood being mixed on Syrian soil.” Iran is a strong supporter of Syria’s Assad as well as Hezbollah.
That assault, which Nasrallah said was carried out by Israeli helicopters, targeted two vehicles, killing Jihad Mughniyah, 25, the son of Imad Mughniyah, a top Hezbollah militant commander who was himself assassinated in a 2008 car bombing in Syria’s capital, Damascus. Israel also is thought to have participated in that attack. That assault, which Nasrallah said was carried out by Israeli helicopters, targeted two vehicles, killing Jihad Mughniyah, 25, the son of Imad Mughniyah, a top Hezbollah militant commander. The elder Mughniyah was assassinated in a 2008 car bombing in Syria’s capital, Damascus. Israel is thought to have participated in that attack.
Also killed was Brig. Gen. Mohammad Ali Allahdadi of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, who Iranian news agencies said was serving as a military adviser to the Assad government. Iran is a key ally of Hezbollah. Also slain in the Jan. 18 assault was Brig. Gen. Mohammad Ali Allahdadi of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, who Iranian news agencies said was serving as a military adviser to the Assad government.
Israel declines to confirm or deny a role in the Jan. 18 attack, which took place in the Quneitra area of the Golan Heights. Israel declines to confirm or deny a role in that attack, which took place in the Quneitra area in the Syrian-controlled section of the Golan Heights.
Nasrallah also accused Israel of aiding the al-Qaeda wing in Syria, Jabhat al-Nusra, which is fighting in the Syrian Golan Heights area where the Jan. 18 attack took place. Ruth Eglash in Jerusalem contributed to this report.
“They provide air cover” for al-Qaeda, Nasrallah said of Israel, and “open the borders for them to let in the wounded” for medical treatment.
U.N. reports say that Israel has been in direct contact with Syrian rebels for well over a year, offering them support such as medical treatment.
Ruth Eglash contributed reporting from Jerusalem.