Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Thursday said that the recent attack on the group’s communication devices, which claimed over 30 lives and injured thousands, was a “severe blow” that overstepped a “red line” and could be seen as “declaration or war”.
Nasrallah, in a video message from an undisclosed location, said that the group is investigating the two-day attack, widely believed to have been carried out by Israel.
“Yes, we were subjected to a huge and severe blow,” Nasrallah said. “The enemy crossed all boundaries and red lines,” the Hezbollah leader added.
“The enemy went beyond all controls, laws and morals,” he said, adding the attacks “could be considered war crimes or a declaration or war, they could be called anything and they deserve to be called anything. Of course that was the intention of the enemy.”
He also said that the group will not stop fighting Israel until Gaza war ends.
While the address was being aired, Beirut was rattled by thunderous sonic booms from Israeli warplanes, a familiar occurrence in recent months amidst heightened risk of full-scale conflict that has progressively escalated.
Hezbollah earlier launched a fresh barrage into northern Israel on Thursday, continuing its series of exchanges with the Israeli military amidst growing concerns of a larger conflict.
Israel has retaliated against Hezbollah’s attacks by conducting military operations in southern Lebanon and targeting high-ranking members of the organization in Beirut, the nation’s capital. The exchanges have killed hundreds in Lebanon and dozens in Israel and forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents on each side of the border.
The device explosions appeared to be the result of a months-long Israeli operation targeting a large number of Hezbollah members simultaneously. Over the course of two days, pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah detonated and injured several fighters. Several civilians associated with the group’s social branches were also injured, with the attack claiming lives of at least two children.
Nasrallah, in a video message from an undisclosed location, said that the group is investigating the two-day attack, widely believed to have been carried out by Israel.
“Yes, we were subjected to a huge and severe blow,” Nasrallah said. “The enemy crossed all boundaries and red lines,” the Hezbollah leader added.
“The enemy went beyond all controls, laws and morals,” he said, adding the attacks “could be considered war crimes or a declaration or war, they could be called anything and they deserve to be called anything. Of course that was the intention of the enemy.”
He also said that the group will not stop fighting Israel until Gaza war ends.
While the address was being aired, Beirut was rattled by thunderous sonic booms from Israeli warplanes, a familiar occurrence in recent months amidst heightened risk of full-scale conflict that has progressively escalated.
Hezbollah earlier launched a fresh barrage into northern Israel on Thursday, continuing its series of exchanges with the Israeli military amidst growing concerns of a larger conflict.
Israel has retaliated against Hezbollah’s attacks by conducting military operations in southern Lebanon and targeting high-ranking members of the organization in Beirut, the nation’s capital. The exchanges have killed hundreds in Lebanon and dozens in Israel and forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents on each side of the border.
The device explosions appeared to be the result of a months-long Israeli operation targeting a large number of Hezbollah members simultaneously. Over the course of two days, pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah detonated and injured several fighters. Several civilians associated with the group’s social branches were also injured, with the attack claiming lives of at least two children.