Hezbollah chief gives speech
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has begun his highly anticipated speech, in which he is expected to address the pager and walkie-talkie attacks and how Hezbollah will respond.
The Hezbollah leader begins his speech by saying that what prompted him to give it were the events of the past two days. Nasrallah says he was planning to present his analysis and report of one-year of fighting on October 7, but what unfolded in the past 48 hours “demanded this message”.
Nasrallah offers condolences
The Hezbollah chief says he will divide his speech into three chapters: the ethical and humanitarian side of the past two days, the facts on the ground, and the general and political stance to be adopted after the recent developments.
He continues by offering his condolences to those who have fallen on the front in southern Lebanon and those who died as a result of the attacks in recent days and wishes speedy recoveries to those who have been injured.
Hezbollah chief thanks Lebanese
Nasrallah also thanks doctors, officials and everyone who helped in the treatment of victims of the attacks, including the people who donated blood. One of the silver linings of the crisis of the past few days is the solidarity and unity experienced across the country, he continues.
Civilians targeted in Israeli attacks, Nasrallah says
Nasrallah says Israel crossed all restrictions and red lines by carrying out the coordinated attacks. He adds that some of the attacks took place in hospitals, pharmacies, marketplaces, commercial shops and even residential homes, private vehicles and public roads where thousands of civilians, including women and children, are present.
‘Criminal intention’
Nasrallah says Israel started its attack by targeting paging devices, knowing that there were more than 4,000 of them in use. When these devices were donated, Israel tried to kill 4,000 people simultaneously as well as those in their vicinity, he charges. The same was repeated on the second day with the aim being to kill thousands of people carrying radio devices, Nasrallah continues.
‘A declaration of war’
Nasrallah calls the attacks “a terrorist act” and a “massacre”. He also says they were an act and a declaration of war against the people of Lebanon and the country’s sovereignty.
Israel ‘wilfully’ intended to kill thousands, Hezbollah chief says
Nasrallah says many of the pagers were out of service, turned off or stored away. He repeats that Israel’s wilful intent was to kill thousands of Lebanese people within minutes.
‘Not jumping to conclusions’
The Hezbollah chief says the group has formed a number of investigation committees examining various scenarios. He says all details will be established without jumping to any conclusions. Nasrallah admits the “unprecedented” attacks were a big security blow.
Attacks did not bring Hezbollah to its knees: Nasrallah
Nasrallah says his group is aware that Israel has a technological edge because it is backed by the US and other tech superpowers. He continues by saying there are ebbs and flows in a war, promising that Hezbollah will brave this challenging moment with its head held high.
“We cannot be broken by this blow, no matter how big or strong it is. And I can assure you faithfully and with confidence, this hard, unprecedented blow did not bring us to our knees – and it will not,” he adds in translated remarks. “These are lessons to learn,” Nasrallah says, promising that Hezbollah will become more robust.
Resistance won’t stop supporting Gaza, Hezbollah chief says
Nasrallah says whatever the consequences and the possibilities, the resistance in Lebanon will not stop supporting Gaza. He also tells Israeli officials they will not be able to return displaced residents of northern Israel back to their homes.
‘The resistance in Lebanon will not stop supporting the resistance in Gaza’
Nasrallah promises that Hezbollah’s operations in southern Lebanon will not come to a halt until the Israeli war on Gaza comes to an end. “The resistance in Lebanon will not stop supporting the resistance in Gaza, the West Bank and all the aggrieved,” he said in translated remarks.
Hezbollah infrastructure ‘not touched’: Nasrallah
Nasrallah says senior Hezbollah officials do not carry the models of pagers that exploded. He also says what happened did not impact the group’s command, control or infrastructure. “I reassure you our infrastructure has not been touched,” he says.
Hezbollah ‘more resolved’ after attacks, Nasrallah says
Nasrallah says the attacks did not shake Hezbollah’s faith, conviction or preparedness. “On the contrary, this turned us more resolved, more robust and more adamant,” he said in translated remarks.
If Israel’s objective was to separate Hezbollah from what is taking place in Gaza, then that’s failed, he said. And if the goal was to drive a wedge among the Lebanese, that was also foiled, Nasrallah added.
A ‘historic opportunity’ for Hezbollah
Nasrallah reiterates the only path to bring calm to the region is for Israel to stop the war on Gaza and the occupied West Bank. He also expresses hope that Israel would try to enter southern Lebanon, saying this will create a “historic opportunity” for Hezbollah. “This will, no doubt, have dire consequences.”
Attacks to meet ‘just punishment’: Nasrallah
The Hezbollah leader continues by saying Israel’s plans to create a buffer zone at the border will be a “trap”. Nasrallah also says in his speech the attacks over the past two days will meet a “just punishment” where Israel “expects it and where it does not”. He adds that the fighting has entered its most sensitive and precise stage.
