Hezbollah’s New Phase in Conflict with Israel
The leader of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, addressed the nation on Thursday, declaring that the ongoing conflict with Israel has entered a significant new phase following a recent Israeli airstrike in Beirut. This attack, which occurred earlier this week, resulted in the death of Fuad Shukr, a high-ranking Hezbollah commander and close confidant of Nasrallah.
Shortly after the strike, a senior Hamas leader was killed in Iran, heightening concerns throughout the Middle East about the potential for Israel’s confrontations with Iran and its allies to escalate into a broader regional conflict.
In his highly anticipated televised address, delivered during Shukr’s funeral, Nasrallah promised that Hezbollah would retaliate, yet his comments left many wondering about the extent and nature of that response. “We have entered a new phase,” he stated, directly addressing Israel with a cautionary message: “You do not realize the red lines you have crossed.” He further emphasized that “the response will come, whether spread out or simultaneously.”
Officials and diplomats across the region had been closely monitoring Nasrallah’s speech for insights into Hezbollah’s strategic direction—whether it would escalate its military actions or seek to de-escalate tensions to avoid full-scale war. His remarks appeared to navigate a delicate balance between these two options.
While asserting that Hezbollah and its allies were preparing a “true response, not a show response as some are trying to suggest,” Nasrallah also indicated that the future course of the conflict would largely depend on Israel’s subsequent actions.
