Iran continues to have their Hezbollah forces attack Israel while threatening larger scale war. Israel faces are far larger enemy north of their border in Hezbollah, Some estimates are Iran’s forces in Lebanon are 9 times more powerful as Iran’s Hamas terrorists were before they started the war.
Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, issued a stark warning on Wednesday, threatening to unleash rocket and drone attacks on Israeli towns that have yet to face the terror group’s wrath if Israel continues to target civilians. This comes amid a disturbing rise in noncombatant casualties in Lebanon in recent days.
Hezbollah chief Nasrallah issues fresh warning to #Iasrael, threatens to fire rockets in areas not targeted yet #Israel #Lebanon #Hezbollah pic.twitter.com/0JQyo8ITP1
— News18 (@CNNnews18) July 17, 2024
Lebanese official media reported that Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon on Tuesday resulted in the deaths of five individuals, including three Syrian children. In retaliation, Hezbollah launched about 100 rockets in four separate waves targeting northern Israel on Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning.
Nasrallah, in a fiery televised address marking the Shiite holy day of Ashura, declared, “Persisting in targeting civilians will push the Resistance to hit settlements that were previously untouched.” He also warned Israel against launching a ground invasion into Lebanon. Since October 8, Hezbollah has been attacking Israeli communities and military posts along the border almost daily, claiming these actions are in solidarity with Gaza during the ongoing conflict.
Other Iran-aligned groups in the region, including Shiite militias in Syria and Iraq and Yemen’s Houthis, have also been firing at Israel following the brutal October 7 attack by Hamas, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people and the kidnapping of 251 individuals to Gaza. Israel, in turn, has signaled it can no longer tolerate Hezbollah’s presence along its border following the October 7 atrocities and has suggested that, failing a diplomatic solution, it will resort to military action to push the terror group northward.
#Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah tells #Israel if its tanks enter south Lebanon they will be destroyed. pic.twitter.com/PTAJoEm4dq
— Nabih (@nabihbulos) July 17, 2024
Nasrallah, addressing these threats, said, “If your tanks come to southern Lebanon, you will not suffer a shortage of tanks, because you will have no tanks left.” This comment appeared to reference a response by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to a High Court petition earlier this week, in which the army stated it lacks sufficient tanks for a pilot training program for female troops, contradicting previous claims by senior military officers.
Hezbollah’s leader vowed to continue attacks against Israel as long as the Gaza war persists, denying rumors of a diplomatic settlement to halt the conflict on the Lebanese border. “All that is being circulated about a finalized agreement regarding the situation on the Lebanese front is incorrect,” he stated.
Nasrallah also promised to rebuild border towns and make them “more beautiful than they were,” praising the residents of southern Lebanon for providing a “steadfast environment” for the “resistance” fighters. The ongoing skirmishes have led to 12 civilian deaths on the Israeli side, along with the deaths of 17 IDF soldiers and reservists. There have also been multiple attacks from Syria, though without any reported injuries.
After Iran’s Hezbollah fired over 85 rockets at Israel yesterday, its terror chief Hassan Nasrallah delivered a belligerent speech this morning, threatening to strike “communities that haven’t yet been attacked.” pic.twitter.com/OvATMVwfKy
— Israel War Room (@IsraelWarRoom) July 17, 2024
Hezbollah has named 367 of its members killed by Israel during these skirmishes, mostly in Lebanon but some also in Syria. In Lebanon, another 66 operatives from other terror groups, a Lebanese soldier, and dozens of civilians have also been killed. No matter what happens in the region, we have a feeling there will be no peace until President Trump once again brings peace back after he is in the White House in January of next year.
Major Points:
- Nasrallah threatens new Israeli targets if civilian attacks persist.
- Five, including three Syrian children, killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon.
- Hezbollah retaliates with 100 rockets targeting northern Israel.
- Nasrallah warns Israel against ground invasion.
- Skirmishes result in multiple deaths, ongoing threats, and regional tension.
RM Tomi – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
