On September 19, in what would be his final address, Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah condemned Israel’s lethal assaults throughout Lebanon, characterizing the circumstances as a potential “declaration of war.”
The leader of the Iran-supported organization pledged to retaliate, claiming that the Israeli aggressions would incur “a just punishment.”
This address occurred shortly before Israeli forces executed an airstrike on Hezbollah’s main headquarters, resulting in the deaths of Nasrallah and senior commander Ibrahim Aqil.
During his speech, Nasrallah reflected on the recent Israeli attacks that resulted in the deaths of 32 individuals and the destruction of Hezbollah’s communication infrastructure, including radios and pagers throughout Lebanon. He referred to the situation as “significant tests” and emphasized the necessity of resilience, stating, “the important thing is to not let the blow knock you down.” He further asserted that with faith in God, Hezbollah would navigate this crisis “with heads held high.”
“The crucial aspect is to remain steadfast in the face of adversity, regardless of its magnitude, and I assure you, with complete confidence and reliance on God, that this formidable and unprecedented blow has not defeated us and will not defeat us, God willing,” Nasrallah declared.
Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s address occurred during a period of heightened violence along the Israel-Lebanon border, where confrontations between Israeli and Hezbollah forces have intensified since the onset of the conflict in Gaza.
On Friday, September 20, Israel executed a targeted operation that resulted in the death of Ibrahim Aqil, the commander of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan unit, along with twelve others in Beirut. Aqil was a prominent figure within the organization and was also sought by the United States for his role in the 1983 bombing of the American embassy in Beirut.
The Israeli military characterized this operation as part of its comprehensive strategy to diminish Hezbollah’s capabilities. As both factions intensified their assaults, concerns regarding a potential wider conflict between Israel and Hezbollah grew, leaving civilians on both sides vulnerable to the violence. Inhabitants of border towns in southern Lebanon reported that the bombardments were the most severe they had experienced since the outbreak of hostilities.
International mediators, including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, have urged for restraint to avert the escalation of the conflict into a full-scale regional war. Nevertheless, Nasrallah’s recent address underscored Hezbollah’s determination to persist, with the leader’s sentiments resonating even posthumously: “Whatever the sacrifices, whatever the consequences, the resistance in Lebanon will not cease to support the oppressed people of Gaza and the West Bank in that sacred land.”
Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have resulted in over 1,000 fatalities and displaced nearly half a million individuals since Monday. Concurrently, the death toll in Gaza has surged to nearly 42,000, with almost the entire population of the region forced to flee due to the unrelenting bombardment. The humanitarian situation has worsened, as food, water, and medical supplies continue to dwindle under the ongoing siege.
