Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah stated that the conflict between his group and Israel has “entered a new phase” following the assassination of a senior commander in Beirut, warning Israel of a “certain” response, according to the Financial Times.
“To the Israeli enemy: laugh a little now, but you will cry a lot as you don’t know what red lines you have crossed,” Nasrallah said, making his most aggressive remarks since the October 7 attack on Israel, which initiated the war in Gaza and heightened fears of a wider regional conflict, Financial Times reported.
Nasrallah spoke via video link before the funeral of his adviser Fuad Shukr, who was killed in an air strike in a Hizbollah stronghold in southern Beirut.
“The enemy does not know where the response will come from,” Nasrallah added, suggesting potential retaliation from other militias within Iran’s network of regional proxies or even Tehran itself, according ttothe report.
“We’ve moved beyond just a support front. This is an open battle on all fronts . . . a new phase,” he said, noting that escalation would “depend on the enemy’s reactions”.
Nasrallah reiterated that a ceasefire in Gaza is the only way to stop hostilities between Hizbollah and Israel.
Iran has accused Israel of Haniyeh’s assassination, although Israel has not confirmed or denied involvement. However, Israel did take responsibility for Shukr’s assassination.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday, “Israel is in a state of very high readiness for any scenario — on both defence and offence. We will exact a very high price for any act of aggression against us from any quarter whatsoever,” as quoted in the Financial Times report.
