Interest rippled through public squares and interior rooms alike as people waited for the first words from Hassan Nasrallah, the Hezbollah leader whose influence stretches across the Arab world. In the wake of the Hamas attack on Israel and the brutal war that followed in Gaza, thousands gathered in Lebanon to hear a message that could reshape regional dynamics. While the speech did not declare a full-scale campaign, initial reactions leaned toward cautious hesitation, a sense that the moment demanded clarity over rhetoric. Beyond the familiar anti-imperialist and anti-Zionist sentiments, Nasrallah signaling a pause from immediate, broad escalation drew attention to Hezbollah and Iran’s tentative posture, hinting at restraint even as the conflict raged. Yet the speaker reminded listeners that what unfolds on the Lebanese front remains intertwined with developments in Gaza.
During an hour-long address, Nasrallah laid out several key points. He asserted that all stages are open and that the situation on the South Lebanon front is under continuous evaluation. He emphasized mobility and readiness, noting that contacts could be made whenever necessary and describing Hezbollah as a support front. He urged Israel to halt its attacks on the Gaza Strip, which has endured devastating tolls—more than 9,000 people killed and immense destruction across the territory—after nearly a month of clashes that intensified regional fire. While addressing the large audience, Nasrallah referenced the operation named Masjid al-Aqsa flood, a land, sea, and air strike attributed to Hamas against Israel, which resulted in substantial casualties. He dismissed claims that the operation served Iran’s broader strategic goals or nuclear negotiations, insisting that it is a Palestinian action driven by the needs and rights of the Palestinian people, with no connection to regional or international affairs beyond that cause.
“Axis of Resistance”
The speech positioned Nasrallah not only as Hezbollah’s chief, but also as a central figure within the so-called Axis of Resistance. He drew a clear line between Hezbollah’s responsibilities and any obligation to involve the group in a wider war. Iran and Hezbollah, he suggested, are not eager to see a larger, regional engagement. He warned those who call for a broader Hezbollah war that the current border tensions remain contained, emphasizing that the situation is dynamic but not automatically escalating. Despite high expectations, Nasrallah underscored a distinction between Hamas’s actions on October 7 and subsequent events. He redirected some emphasis toward the Houthis and other Shiite militias in Yemen and Iraq, while clarifying that Palestinian militias governing Gaza do not speak for all parties within this broader alliance.
Narrating the sequence of events, Nasrallah began with a solemn tribute, noting that 57 fighters had fallen in clashes with Israeli forces in southern Lebanon. He acknowledged that Lebanon has been drawn into the conflict since October 8, stressing significant losses and rapid developments on the ground. He highlighted Hezbollah’s long-standing engagement in the war and signaled continued vigilance. At the same time, he directed a message toward the United States, arguing that Washington bears responsibility for much of the war’s orchestration in Gaza. He contended that Israel operates as a tool within a broader American framework, capable of halting the suffering of Palestinian civilians if political will is exercised. Nasrallah reminded listeners that the current front has not seen a confrontation of this scale since the 1948 period, a reference to historical memory and strategic consequences, and he drew a parallel to the July 2006 conflict to underscore the seriousness of the moment.