Hezbollah Leader Nasrallah to Speak out on the Israel-Gaza Conflict

Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, is set to give a public address to his followers on Friday, marking his first comments since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict. The speech is expected to reveal the group's next steps as clashes persist along the Lebanon-Israel border. Concerns are rising that the area could become another battleground in the conflict, although violence has remained largely contained so far. Hezbollah has escalated its attacks on Israel, prompting retaliatory measures. While both sides appear to be taking measures to prevent escalation, the situation could quickly change. As Israeli forces continue their invasion of Gaza with the goal of eradicating Hamas, the number of Palestinian casualties has surpassed 9,000 by the Hamas-run health ministry's count. Hamas has called on its allies to join the fight, leading to speculation on whether Hezbollah will answer that plea. As a designated terrorist organization by multiple countries, including the UK and the US, Hezbollah holds significant political and military influence in Lebanon. Therefore, Nasrallah's speech is eagerly awaited by both supporters and adversaries, as the group's decisions have wide-reaching implications. Nasrallah's whereabouts remain unknown, and the speech will be broadcast in public screenings organized by Hezbollah nationwide. The group has heralded this as a significant moment and has been building anticipation, releasing videos featuring Nasrallah. Many Lebanese citizens still remember the devastating 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel and fear being drawn into another conflict. Hezbollah possesses an extensive arsenal of weapons, including precision-guided missiles, and boasts a sizable force of battle-hardened fighters. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned of an "unimaginable" response if Hezbollah opens a second front in the conflict. The US, reportedly discouraging a large-scale attack on Hezbollah, has dispatched two aircraft carriers to the eastern Mediterranean to prevent the conflict from spreading further. A full-scale war would have disastrous consequences for Lebanon, which is already grappling with economic crisis and political paralysis. Another potential scenario is an intensification of Hezbollah's attacks, responding to Hamas's calls, while keeping the fighting confined to northern Israel. The Biden administration has been publicly and privately cautioning Iran against escalating the situation. Iran supports the Axis of Resistance, which includes Hezbollah, among other groups, and it is unlikely that major decisions are made without Iran's approval. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi recently stated that Israel's actions had crossed "red lines" and suggested that everyone may need to take action. He criticized the US for supporting Israel while simultaneously urging restraint from Iran. A source close to Hezbollah revealed that Nasrallah, known for his vehement anti-Israeli and anti-American speeches, has been closely monitoring the situation and maintaining constant contact with the group's military leadership, despite his silence. The source emphasized that Hezbollah is carefully assessing the evolving circumstances, constantly making calculations.