As its members exchanged fire with Israeli forces near the border on Wednesday, Hezbollah of Lebanon warned its enemies that it was “thousands of times stronger” than previously. The bloodshed was sparked by the conflict between Hamas and Israel.
In addition to deploying two aircraft carriers, which it claims are intended to dissuade any state or non-state player seeking to escalate the war, the US has warned Iran, which supports Hezbollah and the Palestinian organization Hamas, against getting involved in the situation.
Hashem Safieddine, a Hezbollah official, warned US President Joe Biden, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and “malicious Europeans” in an address to thousands of followers.
“The response to the mistake you might make with our resistance will be resounding,” he declared.
“Because what we have is faith, and God is stronger than you, all your battleships, and all your weapons,” he declared, speaking during a gathering planned in reaction to a strike that left hundreds dead at a Gaza hospital.
Since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 and Israel retaliated with ferocious airstrikes on Gaza, Hezbollah and Israel have been exchanging fire at the border on a nearly daily basis.
Hezbollah reported that two of its fighters were killed and one was seriously injured on Wednesday in south Lebanon.
Using guided missiles in several of the attacks, the organization said it had struck five targets on Wednesday, including an Israeli barracks in Zar’it and a position across the border from Lebanon’s Ras Naqoura region.
The Israeli army said that it was retaliating after terrorists launched anti-tank rockets at Israel’s Kibbutz Manara and Rosh HaNikra close to the border as well as after bullets were fired at its military outposts in the Zar’it area.
“Continue to strike terror targets belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organization,” the army declared.
Since Hezbollah and Israel went to war in 2006, the border combat has been the deadliest since that time.
The number of Hezbollah fighters killed in Tuesday’s fighting has now reached six, according to an announcement made by the organization on Wednesday.
Sources claimed last week that Hezbollah’s attacks had been limited, preventing a catastrophic conflict. On October 13, Naim Qassem, the deputy head of Hezbollah, stated that the organization would act when the moment was right.
Israel’s defense minister stated on October 15 that his country had no interest in fighting on its northern front and that if Hezbollah exercised restraint, Israel would also maintain the status quo along the border.
