Threats to the United States and a declaration of non-involvement in Hamas attacks: What did the Hezbollah leader say – and who did he talk to?

There was great anticipation, in Lebanonfor a speech Hassan NasrallahTo the extent that it casts a shadow over the proposal for the “peace plan” for Gaza that was launched two days ago by the Lebanese Prime Minister himself, Najib Mikati. Early this afternoon, Hezbollah’s Secretary General spoke publicly for the first time since the beginning of the new Israeli-Palestinian crisis, which resurfaced in the wake of Hamas’ attacks in Israel last October 7. As often happens during his speeches, Nasrallah, after his customary tribute to the “martyrs” — more than 40 Hezbollah militiamen have been killed in clashes with Israel in the last three weeks in the south — touched on a myriad of dots, partly connecting them. , and maintained the tones he started using since joining Hizb allah In the war in Syria.

The Syrian conflict has strengthened his military capabilities, but it has also strengthened his view of himself: Nasrallah He speaks as the leader of an actor that is no longer local but rather regional and international, and sometimes as if he were a head of state or a prime minister, and it is important that he not only referred to Mikati’s plan, but that none of his statements can be linked in any way to what the Prime Minister assumed – who spoke In a somewhat utopian way, there was a preliminary truce to release some hostages and a ceasefire and prisoner exchange, followed by the release of some hostages. International peace conference.

There may be three other cases Appropriate From his words. First of all, confirming that what happened on October 7 “was a 100% Palestinian initiative,” dispelling the doubts raised by those who portrayed the Hamas attack as part of an operation already decided by the Iranian authorities in Beirut, in agreement even with their pledges. Hezbollah allies. As is known, Hamas has enjoyed financial and military support for several years TehranWhich had no role in decision-making in the events of October 7, while maintaining its role as a supporter of the source. “Keeping the October 7 operation secret from other resistance factions did not cause them any problems. In fact, if anything, it earned our applause and the secrecy of the operation Al-Aqsa flood “It confirms its purely Palestinian character,” said Nasrallah, who has historically tended to prefer claiming responsibility for operations in which he had a role. After noting that the Israeli authorities “need to request military assistance worth $10 billion from the United States, which calls into question the ability of the Zionist entity to maintain stability and self-sufficiency,” Nasrallah went to United StateHe was considered “the real responsible for what is happening in Gaza, while Israel is their tool”: this is the assumption that makes the Shiite leader the recent operations of the Axis of Resistance militias against the American forces in Gaza. Syria And IraqIts withdrawal is one of its main strategic goals.

Finally, the Lebanon’s role. Nasrallah only addressed the Israelis on one occasion, warning them — “the greatest folly in Israel’s entire existence” — against attempting a ground invasion of Lebanon, as happened with the invasion of Lebanon. 2006But it confirms the active commitment of the militia party in the south of the country, where battles with the Israelis have been continuing for at least three weeks, so far below alert level, even with dozens of deaths. “Since last year October 8 Nasrallah said that the Islamic resistance in Lebanon is waging a tangible battle whose danger is understood only by those in the south of the country. “Staying on the border, it will certainly extend further,” he said, referring to the possibility of the conflict expanding.

Hezbollah’s intervention, as expected, has a function deterrent And transformationwith the aim of forcing the Israeli Defense Army To move partially to the north, thus relieving the pressure on it Gaza. Nasrallah added: “If we had maintained only a position of political solidarity with the public demonstrations that we organized, the Israelis would not have faced any problems on the northern border, and this would have allowed them to fully deploy in Gaza.” “A quarter of Israel’s air force was redirected to Lebanon, and nearly half of its missile defense systems were directed northward, displacing tens of thousands of settlers in the region.” Finally, a warning to the Americans: “In the event of a regional conflict, your naval fleet and air strikes will be of little or no benefit. Rather, it will be your personnel who suffer the worst losses,” Nasrallah commented. “Your fleet in the Mediterranean does not frighten us and will never frighten us, and those who spoiled your plans in the early eighties (referring to the attack on the barracks of marines and French soldiers in Beirut in 1983 that led to the death of 300 people, edition) are still alive today, With their children and grandchildren.”