BEIRUT (AP) — Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah vowed Thursday to continue daily strikes on Israel despite a recent escalation this week. deadly sabotage From the communications devices of its members, it said that Israelis displaced from their homes near the Lebanese border due to the fighting would not be able to return until War in Gaza Ends.
Hezbollah and Israel launched fresh cross-border attacks, as Hassan Nasrallah spoke for the first time since the mass bombing of devices in Lebanon and Syria, which he described as “severe blow” – And he promised to respond.
the Two days of attacks Israel has been widely blamed for targeting thousands of Hezbollah radios and pagers, raising fears that 11 months of near-daily exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israel could escalate into all-out war. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied involvement in the attacks.
During Nasrallah’s speech, Hezbollah launched at least four airstrikes in northern Israel, killing two Israeli soldiers in an earlier strike in the day. Israeli warplanes flew low over Beirut as Nasrallah spoke, breaking the sound barrier, scattering birds and prompting people in homes and offices to quickly open windows to prevent them from shattering.
Israel also launched attacks on southern Lebanon on Thursday, saying it hit hundreds of rocket launchers and other Hezbollah infrastructure, though it was not immediately clear if there were any casualties. The military said the launchers were due to be used “in the near future.”
Meanwhile, the military ordered residents in parts of the Golan Heights and northern Israel to avoid public gatherings, reduce movement and stay close to bomb shelters in anticipation of possible rocket fire.
In recent weeks, Israeli leaders have stepped up warnings of a possible civil war. A broader military operation against HezbollahThe Israeli military said it was determined to cease fire to allow tens of thousands of Israelis to return to their homes near the border.
Lebanese soldiers stand guard as their comrades prepare to detonate a walkie-talkie found in the parking lot of the American University Hospital in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
In a press briefing on Thursday, Israel’s defense minister said Hezbollah “will pay an increasing price” as Israel seeks to make conditions near its border with Lebanon safe enough for residents to return.
“Our series of military operations will continue,” he added.
The attack on the electronic devices appears to have been the culmination of A months-long operation carried out by Israel The attacks were intended to target as many Hezbollah members as possible at one time—but civilians were also hurt. At least 37 people, including two children, were killed and some 3,000 wounded in the explosions on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Associated Press correspondent Karen Shammas reports on the second wave of bomb attacks in Lebanon.
Nasrallah said his group was investigating how the bombings were carried out.
“Yes, we were dealt a strong and severe blow,” he said, adding, “The enemy crossed all borders and red lines,” pointing to the number of pagers and radios, and accusing Israel of intending to kill thousands at once. “The enemy will face severe and just punishment, both expected and unexpected.”
He said Hezbollah would continue to bombard northern Israel as long as the war in Gaza continued, vowing that Israel would not be able to return its citizens to the border area. “The only way is to stop the aggression against the residents of Gaza and the West Bank. Neither strikes, nor assassinations, nor all-out war will achieve that,” he added.
Earlier Thursday, Hezbollah said it had targeted three Israeli military positions near the border, two of them with drones. Israeli hospitals said eight people were lightly or moderately wounded.
Hezbollah says the near-daily fire is a show of support for Hamas. Israel’s 11-month-old war on Hamas in Gaza began after the group’s militants led an attack on Israel on October 7.
Israel responded to Hezbollah’s attacks by launching airstrikes in southern Lebanon and targeting senior figures from the group in the capital, Beirut. The attacks killed hundreds in Lebanon and dozens in Israel, and forced tens of thousands of residents to evacuate their homes on both sides of the border.
Israel and Hezbollah have repeatedly backed away from all-out war under intense pressure from the United States, France and other countries.
But in their latest warnings, Israeli leaders have said they are determined to radically change the status quo.
“We are at the beginning of a new phase in the war – one that requires courage, determination and perseverance,” Galant told Israeli troops on Wednesday. He made no mention of the explosive devices but praised the work of the Israeli military and security services, saying: “The results are very impressive.”
He said that after months of Fighting Hamas in Gaza“The center of gravity is shifting north through a shift in resources and forces.”
Israel began moving more troops to its border with Lebanon on Wednesday as a precaution, Israeli officials said. Israeli military chief of staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said plans were in place for additional action against Hezbollah, though media reported the government had not yet decided whether to launch a major offensive in Lebanon.
Lebanon is still reeling from the effects of deadly gun attacks on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The explosions have alarmed Lebanese who fear an all-out war. The Lebanese army said it was working to locate and detonate suspicious pagers and communications devices, while the country’s civil aviation authorities banned pagers and wireless communication devices on all flights departing from Beirut International Airport until further notice.
The attack is likely to severely disrupt Hezbollah’s internal communications as the group tries to find secure ways to communicate with others. Hezbollah said five of its fighters were killed Thursday, but did not specify whether they were killed in the explosions or on the front lines.
Explosions have occurred wherever pagers or walkie-talkies have been present in many parts of Beirut and eastern and southern Lebanon—in homes, cars, grocery stores, cafes, on the street, and even at the funeral of some of those killed in the bombings, often with family and other bystanders nearby.
Many suffered cuts to their legs, stomachs and faces or maimed hands. Tuesday’s blasts killed 12 people, including two children, and wounded about 2,300. The following day’s blast killed 25 people and wounded more than 600, Health Minister Firas Abiad said, citing updated figures.
Abiad told reporters that the injuries on Wednesday were more serious than the previous day because the walkie-talkies that exploded were larger than pagers. He praised Lebanon’s hospitals, saying they were able to handle the influx of wounded within hours. “It was a random attack. It was a war crime,” he said.
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