Palestinian al-Qassam Brigades spokesperson Abu Obeida hails the steadfastness of the Palestinian Resistance as it faces the Israeli occupation forces for the 200th day.
The Israeli occupation has proven impotent as it proved unsuccessful in making any advances in Gaza 200 days into its ruthless onslaught as it only commits massacres and destroys civilian infrastructure, al-Qassam Brigades spokesperson Abu Obeida said on Tuesday.
Today marks the 200th day of Israeli aggression on Gaza in the wake of Operation al-Aqsa Flood, an aggression that has thus far claimed the lives of more than 34,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands of others. However, no one is touting an Israeli victory, as their declared goal of destroying the Resistance is not only far from being achieved, but also continuously proving to be unattainable.
The spokesperson for Hamas’ armed wing underlined that the Israeli occupation continues to peddle the great lie that is its capacity to destroy all the Palestinian Resistance factions. “200 days later, and the Resistance is still unwavering. It will continue to deal blows to the occupation so long as its aggression continues and so long as it continues to exist on Palestinian land.”
“200 days later, the enemy is still stuck in the sands #Gaza with no goal, no horizon, and no retrieving of its captives,” Military spokesman for the Al-Qassam Brigades, Abu Ubaida said in a televised speech.
“One of the lies of the enemy government is its attempt to make the… https://t.co/PPUOjWycgh
The Resistance’s operations, the spokesperson said, “Will take new forms and adapt with new, adequate tactics.”
As the war entered its seventh month, Abu Obeida stressed that the Israeli occupation “is still stuck in the mud in Gaza with no hope on the horizon, and it will reap nothing but shame and defeat.”
The Resistance fighters are expelling and will continue to expel “this enemy despite being covered in ashes, rising from beneath the rubble as the whole world bears witness to the might of the Resistance fighters, not just through action on the battlefield but their withdrawal from various directions.”
The Israeli occupation is still trying to restore its image that was tarnished on October 7, the spokesperson underlined. “They aim to link their victory to invading Rafah, and it tries to sell the lie that it defeated all Resistance factions except for the Rafah Battalion.”
Ron Arad scenario to repeat itself
Commenting on the ongoing negotiations and prisoner swap talks, Abu Obeida said the Israeli occupation was attempting to rid itself of the pledges it made during the talks as it aims to gain more time. However, he added, “The Palestinian Resistance will not surrender the pivotal rights of the Palestinian people, chief among which is the withdrawal of the Israeli occupation forces, the lifting of the blockade, and the return of the displaced.”
Abu Obeida, addressing Israeli settlers, underlined that the ball was in the court of the Israeli regime, “but the window of time is very narrow, and they have very limited opportunities.”
He recalled the story of Israeli pilot Ron Arad, who disappeared during a mission in the airspace of Lebanon in 1986, with no information being known about him since. “The Israeli captives in Gaza might be fortunate to meet the same fate as Ron Arad,” he said, warning the Israeli occupation against delaying the talks any further.
“The occupation’s policy of exerting military pressure will not push the Resistance but to adhere to its position and safeguard the rights of the people,” he said.
Iranian response set up new rules of engagement
Abu Obeida hailed Iran’s Operation True Promise carried out by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps in Iran in response to the occupation’s aggression against the Iranian consulate in Damascus and emphasized that this response “set new rules of engagement and disarrayed the occupation,” as the regime’s backers scrambled to defend it from thousands of miles away.
The al-Qassam Brigades spokesperson went on to praise every military and popular effort made toward Operation al-Aqsa Flood, especially the fronts of Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq.
Abu Obeida said the leading edge front of the Resistance was the West Bank front. He also hailed the people of Jordan and called on them to escalate and called on the people of the Arab and Islamic Worlds to also escalate in support of the Palestinian people and cause.
“The hysteric reaction to the Resistance’s military actions on the various fronts indicates the importance of the armed struggle in the face of the occupying powers,” he concluded by saying.
200 days of genocide
The Ministry of Health in Gaza confirmed Tuesday that the number of Palestinians killed as a result of the ongoing Israeli aggression since October 7 has risen to 34,183 and those injured to 77,143.
In its daily report, the Ministry said that the Israeli occupation forces have committed three massacres against families in the Gaza Strip, resulting in 32 martyrs and 59 injuries who were transferred to hospitals in the past 24 hours.
On its part, the Government Media Office in Gaza confirmed that the Israeli occupation forces have committed a total of 3,025 massacres against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and dropped 75,000 tonnes of explosives on the enclave.
In an update on the figures resulting from 200 days of “Israel’s” genocidal war on Gaza, the Office emphasized that out of the 34,183 martyrs who reached hospitals, 14,778 are children and 9,752 are women. It added that 30 children lost their lives due to famine, confirming that 72% of the victims of the Israeli war were children and women.
According to the report, the Israeli occupation forces killed 485 medical staff, 67 civil defense crews, and 140 journalists.
It said that 7,000 are still missing and 17,000 children are now orphaned, living without one or both parents.
Multi-front solidarity
The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon – Hezbollah confirmed Tuesday that it engaged the headquarters of two Israeli military units in southern occupied Palestine in response to the assassination of one of its fighters in a southern Lebanese town earlier.
In a statement, Hezbollah said its Resistance fighters launched a combined aerial attack using diversionary and suicide drones and engaged the headquarters of the Golani Brigade and the Egoz Unit 621 at Shraga barracks north of the occupied city of Akka, hitting its targets precisely.
Reuters highlighted that this was Hezbollah’s “deepest attack” into occupied Palestinian territory since the start of the Gaza war on October 7.
Israeli media had earlier reported sirens sounding in the Upper al-Jalil area over a drone infiltration and mentioned that interception missiles were launched toward a suspicious aerial target in the skies of Nahariya.
The media also pointed out that sirens sounded in numerous northern settlements reaching the city of Akka. It was also noted that sirens sounded in Kiryat for the first time since last December.
The Israeli Army Radio confirmed that 200,000 Israelis took shelter in the north after three drones were launched from Lebanon over Nahariya.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq has confirmed that the attack came in response to the aggression against the PMF, and in support of the Palestinian people in Gaza.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq launched a drone attack against a strategic Israeli target in the ’48 Israeli-occupied territories in response to the Israeli attack against a military base where a Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) group was deployed.
In a statement on its Telegram channel, the Iraqi Resistance adopted the operation against the Eilat port on Saturday morning, noting that it was in response to the violation of Iraqi sovereignty, the aggression against the PMF, and in support of Gaza against the Israeli massacres and genocide against Palestinians in the Strip.
BREAKING: VIDEO OF ISLAMIC RESISTANCE OF IRAQ TARGETING EILAT “UMM RASHRASH” IN ISRAEL pic.twitter.com/JPKRhPr4tD
Earlier on Saturday, the director of Al Mayadeen‘s office in Baghdad confirmed that one person was killed and eight others were injured, as a result of the aggression that targeted the Kalsu Base in Musayib, south of the capital. He clarified that the aggression targeted the main entrance to the base and an office belonging to the PMF, adding that it was most likely carried out with drones.
Iraqi airspace remained bustling with the usual American air traffic, as confirmed by the director of our Baghdad office, who reported the monitored movement of an American air refueling plane in Iraqi airspace. Furthermore, another US State Department plane was tracked moving from Baghdad towards the Lebanese capital, Beirut, following the aggression, as per the ongoing report.
In turn, the Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq verified that an explosion took place at its headquarters at the Kalsu military base.
Iraqi Resistance announces targeting the Israeli ‘Ovda’ air base
Similarly, in a brief statement on Friday, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq announced that its Resistance fighters targeted the Israeli “Ovda” air base using drones.
The Islamic Resistance said that its resistance fighters targeted on “Monday, April 15, 2024, the Israeli Ovda air base in our occupied territories, using drones,” stressing that it would continue to destroy enemy strongholds.
The Resistance confirmed that the operation comes in solidarity with the people of the Gaza Strip and in retaliation for the massacres perpetrated by the occupation entity against the defenseless Palestinian civilians, including women, children, and the elderly.
In support of the Palestinian people and resistance in Gaza and in light of the Israeli aggression on the various South Lebanon villages, the Islamic Resistance continued striking the Zionist occupation sites near Lebanon border.
Hezbollah military media issued consecutive statements to illustrate the attacks and their outcomes.
The first statement mentioned that the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted, at 12:05 am on Thursday, April 18, 2024, an “Israeli” military force attempting to withdraw the military vehicle that was targeted yesterday at Al-Mutela site, using appropriate weapons, resulting in confirmed hits.
According to the second statement, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted, at dawn on Thursday, April 18, 2024, an “Israeli” enemy movement at Al-Malkiya site with rocket weapons, inflicting direct hits.
The third statement affirmed that, after careful monitoring and anticipation of the enemy’s movement at Al-Marj site, and upon the arrival of enemy soldiers and their vehicles to the specified location at 12:30 pm on Thursday, April 18, 2024, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted them with rocket weapons, inflicting direct hits and causing casualties, leaving them dead and wounded.
Islamic Resistance fighters targeted, at 2:00 pm on Thursday, April 18, 2024, an “Israeli” enemy gathering in Hanita woods with rocket weapons, inflicting direct hits, the fourth statement affirmed.
The fifth statement indicated that the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted Zibdeen site in the occupied Lebanese Shebaa Farms at 5:00 pm on Thursday, April 18, 2024, with artillery shells, inflicting confirmed injuries.
The sixth statement maintained that the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted Ruwaisat Al-Alam site in the occupied Lebanese hills of Kfar Shuba at 5:20 pm on Thursday, April 18, 2024, with rocket weapons, inflicting direct hits.
The seventh statement emphasized that the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted at 6:00 pm on Thursday, April 18, 2024, a gathering of “Israeli” enemy soldiers in the vicinity of Hanita settlement with rocket weapons, inflicting direct hits.
Hezbollah military media released a video which shows the Islamic Resistance missile attack on the AN/TEQ-37 artillery detection radar works to detect projectiles and missiles and identify sources of fire in the air surveillance unit at the Meron base in northern occupied Palestine.
Hezbollah military media released another video which displays the Islamic Resistance targeting of the spy devices at Al-Ramtha site in the occupied Lebanese Shebaa Farms.
Hezbollah military media issued two statements to mourn the fighters Mohammad Jamil Al-Shami and Ali Ahmad Hamadeh, and Hussein Ali Hazimeh who embraced martyrdom all the way to Al-Quds.
Martyr Mohammad Jamil Al-Shami
Martyr Ali Ahmad Hamadeh
Martyr Hussein Ali Hazimeh
In support of the resilient Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and in solidarity with their heroic resistance, the Islamic Resistance carried out a number of operations against “Israeli” military sites and deployments along the Lebanese-Palestinian borders on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, as follows:
Eastern Sector:
1. At 23:30 on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a military vehicle as it entered Al-Mutela site with appropriate weapons, causing a direct hit and resulting in fatalities and injures. 2. At 15:40, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted Zibdeen barracks in the occupied Lebanese Shebaa Farms with Falaq rockets, causing a direct hit.
3. At 15:50, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the surveillance equipment at Al-Ramtha site in the occupied Lebanese hills of Kfar Shuba with appropriate weapons, causing a direct hit.
Western Sector:
1. At 07:30, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the command headquarters of the 91st Division at Branit barracks with a Burkan missile, causing a direct hit.
2. At 07:50, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the newly deployed “Israeli” enemy soldiers south of the Branit barracks with rocket weapons and artillery shells. 3. At 08:30, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of “Israeli” enemy soldiers in the vicinity of Ramya site with rocket weapons and artillery shells. 4. At 08:50, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the newly deployed “Israeli” enemy soldiers south of Branit barracks for the second time with rocket weapons. 5. At 11:30, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the Air Defense Unit at Meron Base with guided missiles, resulting in its damage and the destruction of its equipment, in response to “Israeli” attacks on the steadfast southern villages and civilian homes. 6. At 13:15, the Islamic Resistance fighters launched a combined attack with guided missiles and assault drones on the command headquarters of the newly established Military Reconnaissance Unit in Arab Al-Aramsha, known as the “Mass Center,” causing a direct hit and resulting in casualties among its members, leaving them dead and injured, in response to the enemy’s assassination of several resistance fighters in Ain Ba’al and Al-Shahabiya.
Special coverage | Hezbollah’s operation in Arab Al-Aramsha confirms the loss of Israeli deterrence.
Hezbollah’s strike was qualitative and powerful. The Israeli media described the targeting of Arab Al-Aramsha yesterday as one of the most dangerous incidents since the start of the war. A shock in the military, political, security and media circles in “Israel”. A complex operation struck a hidden gathering of occupation soldiers and officers in Arab Al-Aramsha in northern occupied Palestine. An attack aircraft, guided missiles and other combat means were the tools of the Islamic Resistance’s response to the prolonged attacks on southern Lebanon.
Amman’s collaboration with Tel Aviv peaked last Saturday with its shocking defense of Israeli territory from Iranian drones and missiles, a move that may prove fateful for the future of the Hashemite Kingdom.
The most dangerous development during Iran’s massive 13 April retaliatory strike against Israel last weekend was the defensive military alliance – comprising the US, Britain, Jordan, and France – that coalesced to defend the occupation state.
Jordan has jumped to Israel’s full defense at a time when Arabs have never been more collectively outraged by its crimes.
Particularly notable was Jordan’s role in thwarting Iran’s incoming drones and missiles. The Hashemite Kingdom was the only Arab or Muslim state to act as Israel’s “firewall,” providing direct military protection for Tel Aviv within a multilateral, regional military framework.
Despite Amman’s long-standing pro-Israel stance, this sudden reassertion of its position is indicative of some broader shifts in military strategies across West Asia.
Patterns and calculations of confrontations across West Asia will be readjusted to adapt to this new equation and others that have emerged in the region as alliances shift to and away from the west.
That includes the Axis of Resistance, which will likely reassess the expected range of responses in a future confrontation, given that western anti-missile capabilities are well spread throughout strategic locations – strategic sites from the Ain al-Assad base in Anbar, Iraq, to the Al-Tanf base at the Syrian–Jordanian–Iraqi border and from the Mashabim base in the Negev desert to the King Faisal base in northwestern Jordan.
Strategic shifts
Over the years, the Jordanian government has dramatically shrunk its commitments to the Palestinian cause and “Arabism.”
This can be traced from its 1968 “Battle of Dignity” against Israel to 5 November, when King Abdullah II boasted of his country’s “success” in airdropping medical aid to the Jordanian field hospital in the Gaza Strip, and now, quite stunningly, employing its air force to protect Israel’s security from retaliatory Iranian strikes.
This shift is not merely a reactionary measure but the culmination of years of extensive security and military coordination with the occupation state, as highlighted by a Jordanian opposition activist speaking to The Cradle. This deep-seated integration into anti-missile and drone operations reflects a strategic evolution rather than a spontaneous response.
Eyewitness reports from multiple sources to The Cradle describe the audible presence of warplanes over the Amman region, followed by the sound of explosions hours later when overhead projectiles were intercepted and downed.
One Jordanian witness relays that the suburb of Marj al-Hamam saw the most interceptions against Iranian drones and missiles, with debris reported across the area.
Jordanian writer and journalist Rania Jabari informs The Cradle that “citizens in Jordan have felt jammed on the GPS for about two weeks,” that is, since after the Israeli airstrike on Iran’s consulate in Damascus.
Amid rising concerns about a swift Iranian counterattack through drone incursions, Israel reportedly initiated GPS jamming operations across several regional countries, including Jordan.
Jabari suggests that this electronic interference might have precipitated the Jordanian Air Force’s readiness to intercept any unauthorized aerial objects in its airspace, given the potential risks to national security from mistakenly guiding Iranian drones into Jordanian territory.
However, the Jordanian opposition activist casts doubt on the capability of Jordan’s Air Force – equipped with only about 60 older F-16 and F-5 aircraft – to single-handedly manage the response against hundreds of Iranian drones and missiles destined for Israel.
Regional repercussions
Supporting these suspicions, Israeli Channel 12 reported that Israeli fighter jets had intercepted drones launched by Iran in the airspace of Jordan and Syria.
The day after the Iranian Operation True Promise, the Jordanian government issued a vague statement, only saying that “some unidentified flying objects that entered our airspace last night were dealt with and intercepted to prevent endangering the safety of our citizens and inhabited areas.”
The statement conspicuously omitted any mention of the scale of involvement of the Israeli Air Force or the nature and role of US fighter jets participating in the operation.
Given the limitations of Jordan’s aerial fleet and the extensive geographic area these planes need to cover – a “firewall” stretching approximately 1,500 kilometers from western Iran to the occupied territories of Palestine – the involvement of international forces seems credible.
Additionally, Iraqi sources inform The Cradle that coalition forces had shot down about 30 drones and missiles over Iraq, with explosions heard in regions like Erbil, Najaf, Wasit, and Anbar. This indicates that a significant number of the drones and missiles traversed Jordanian skies, where they were intercepted before reaching their intended targets in Israel.
The role of the Jordanian Air Force is so significant that the Iranian Mehr news agency quoted an Iranian military source as saying, “Iran will monitor Jordanian movements, and if they cooperate with Israel, Jordan will be our next target.”
The source is said to have “warned Jordan and other countries in the region before the start of the attack against cooperating with the occupying entity.”
This statement seems to have aroused the ire of the Jordanian government. On Sunday, authorities summoned the Iranian ambassador in Amman to warn against Tehran’s “questioning of Jordan’s position.”
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi also issued a statement saying that his government would “intercept any drone or missile that breaches our airspace, whether Iranian or Israeli.”
However, the Jordanian oppositionist questions the accuracy of Safadi’s statement, especially about his country’s readiness to confront a similar threat coming from Tel Aviv, noting numerous occasions when Israeli fighter jets infiltrated Jordanian airspace to carry out raids on Syria.
A history of betraying Palestine
Jordan’s historical antagonism towards Palestinian resistance dates back to the “Black September” massacres of 1970, aimed at expelling the PLO from the country – allegedly with the support of former King Hussein bin Talal, who reportedly received backing from Israel and the US.
During the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel’s Air Force shot down and destroyed dozens of Jordanian aircraft. Following the 1994 Amman–Tel Aviv peace agreement, the two states have struck multiple defense deals, including Israel supplying Jordan with F-16 jets and Cobra helicopters.
Since the 1970s, when Israel supported Jordan during the Palestinian revolt against King Hussein, the two air forces have not engaged in combat. Israeli belligerence persists despite this. On the eve of the 1991 Gulf War, when asked about potential opposition from the Jordanian Air Force should Israel strike Iraq, then-retired Air Force Commander Avihu Ben-Nun boldly stated, “There would be no more Jordanian Air Force.”
It is very likely, moreover, that the western militaries involved in Israel’s defense last weekend utilized Jordanian bases. For example, US troops are stationed at the Mashabim air base in the Negev desert, supporting operations like the Iron Dome system.
Similarly, UK and French military forces are present at multiple strategic locations within Jordan, including the King Faisal Air Base in Al-Jafr and the Humaymah base near Aqaba, where they play roles in regional defense and run intelligence operations.
There are also French troops at King Faisal Air Base, known as Al-Ruwaished Base, which is close to Al-Tanf. From this base, activities involving espionage operations in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Iran are carried out through a state-of-the-art reconnaissance center, and its airport is believed to be used by both Israeli and US drones.
Sacrificing Jordan’s stability for Israel’s security
But Jordan’s relations and collaboration with Tel Aviv remain deeply unpopular among the country’s citizenry, with protestors amassing for weeks near the Israeli embassy in Amman – many of them subsequently subjected to repression and tight security restrictions by Jordanian authorities.
Adding to the pressure on Amman, the Iraqi resistance faction, Kataib Hezbollah, announced earlier this month its readiness to arm “12,000 fighters with light and medium weapons, anti-armor launchers, tactical missiles, millions of bullets and tons of explosives, so that we can be united to defend our Palestinian brothers,” adding that it would seek to “cut off the [Jordan] land route that reaches the Zionist entity.”
By participating in the interception of Iranian drones, Jordan has made a significant contribution to alleviating some pressure off Israel, but one that comes with a much more significant domestic consequence for the stability of the kingdom.
Will Amman’s blatant alignment with Tel Aviv in this context prove to be politically detrimental for its monarch? In years to come, this decision may be viewed as a strategic error of gargantuan proportions. For now, Jordan’s political future and its position in regional politics remain uncertain – certainly as Tel Aviv and Tehran gear up for further confrontations.
King Abdallah can jump into the fray as he did last weekend and suffer through further waves of domestic and Arab outrage, or he can resolve to stay neutral and quiet – as many larger, more powerful neighbors chose to do – and let Iranians and Israelis adversaries fight their own battles.
The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of The Cradle.
In support of the Palestinian people and resistance in Gaza and in light of the Israeli aggression on the various South Lebanon villages, the Islamic Resistance continued striking the Zionist occupation sites near Lebanon border.
Hezbollah military media issued consecutive statements to illustrate the attacks and their outcomes.
The first statement mentioned that the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted yesterday evening, Monday, April 15, 2024, a gathering of “Israeli” enemy soldiers in the vicinity of the Birket Risha site with rocket weapons.
According to the second statement, the Islamic Resistance fighters launched at 14:25 in the afternoon of Tuesday, April 16, 2024, a targeted aerial attack with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) on two batches that targeted the missile defense system in Beit Hillel.
“The attack successfully hit the Iron Dome platforms, causing casualties among its crew, leaving them dead and wounded.”
Israeli Channel 12 reported that drones fell in the Galilee, adding that 3 firefighting teams were working to extinguish a fire that broke out in the area, and the incident was under control.
The fifth statement indicated that, in response to the Israeli attacks on the safe villages, the most recent of which was Ai Baal, the Islamic Resistance fighters bombarded Beit Hillel base with Katyusha missiles at 16:45 on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.
In response to the Israeli aggression on the Lebanese villages, including Ain Baal and Shehabiyah, the Islamic Resistance fighters bombarded at 19:25 on Tuesday, April 16, 202 the command headquarters of Brigade 769 in Kiryat Shmona with Katyusha missiles, according to the sixth statement.
The seventh statement mentioned that. in response to the Israeli aggression on the Lebanese villages, including Ain Baal and Shehabiyah, the Islamic Resistance fighters bombarded at 19:30 on Tuesday, April 16, 202 the command headquarters of air surveillance unit in Mount Meron with missiles and artillery shells.
Hezbollah military media issued two statements to mourn the fighters Esmail Youssef Baz (Abu Jaafar), Mahmoud Ibrahim Fadlullah, and Mohammad Hussein Mustafa Shehoury who embraced martyrdom all the way to Al-Quds.
Martyr Esmail Youssef Baz
Martyr Mahmoud Ibrahim Fadlullah
Martyr Mohammad Hussein Mustafa Shehoury
Meanwhile, the Israeli media indicated that 40% of Israelis who have evacuated the northern settlements due to Hezbollah attacks will not return.
On the other hand, the Israeli drones and war jets raided several villages in southern Lebanon, targeting civilian houses and cars in Shahabiyeh, Ai Baal, Yaroun, and Alma al-Shaab.
In support of the steadfast Palestinian people in Gaza and in reinforcement of their courageous and honorable resistance, the Islamic Resistancecarried out a number of operations against the positions and deployments of the “Israeli” enemy army along the Palestinian-Lebanese borders on Monday, April 15, 2024, as follows:
– Eastern Sector:
1- On Sunday, April 14, 2024, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the espionage equipment at Al-Radar site in the occupied Lebanese Shebaa Farms with appropriate weapons, inflicting direct hits.
2- At 5:45 pm, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted Ruwaisat Al-Alam site in the occupied Lebanese hills of Kfar Shuba with rocket weapons, inflicting direct hits.
3- At 6:40 pm, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted Al-Radar site in the occupied Lebanese Shebaa Farms with rocket weapons, inflicting direct hits.
– Western Sector:
1- At 6:20 am, after careful monitoring and anticipation of movements by “Israeli” enemy forces, the Islamic Resistance fighters planted several explosive devices in the area of Tal Ismail, adjacent to the border with occupied Palestine within Lebanese territory. When a unit belonging to the Golani Brigade crossed the border and reached the location of the devices, they were detonated, resulting in casualties among them, leaving them dead and wounded.
2- At 4:55 pm, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of “Israeli” enemy soldiers in the vicinity of Metat barracks with appropriate weapons, resulting in casualties among them, leaving them dead and wounded.
3- At 5:00 pm, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the deployment of “Israeli” enemy soldiers in the woods of Hanita with rocket weapons and artillery shells, inflicting direct hits.
At the heart of the Axis of Resistance is the struggle for a free Palestine, and all unfolding events are interconnected to serve that larger goal. (Illustrated by Hady Dbouq for Al Mayadeen English)
The escalating confrontations in the West Bank are intricately linked to the ongoing genocide in Gaza, the Axis of Resistance’s support for Palestine, and Iran’s retaliatory operation, True Promise.
In recent months, the West Bank has witnessed a disturbing trend: a surge in attacks by settlers targeting Palestinian individuals and villages. While this pattern of aggression is not novel within the context of “Israel’s” policy of ethnic cleansing, its intensified manifestation, often concealed under the pretext of incidents such as the disappearance of a settler near Ramallah, underscores the volatile aftermath of Operation al-Aqsa Flood.
Amidst this backdrop, the launch of Operation al-Aqsa Flood emerges as a watershed moment that reaffirms the cause of Palestine as a central Arab and Islamic one, especially amid the existing critical juncture on the global scale.
Though carried out by the al-Qassam Brigades, this operation is like a sprout from the deep roots of the ongoing battle for Palestine’s freedom, led by what has become known as the Axis of Resistance.
Spanning from the Mashreq to the Maghreb (Orient to the Occident), across the breadth of the Arab and Islamic worlds, the events unfolding in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and throughout occupied Palestine have ignited a widespread response. These developments have set off a chain reaction, leading to escalations not only within the West Bank but also beyond, fueled by “Israel’s” “campaigns between wars.”
This campaign precipitated Iran’s remarkable retaliation following an Israeli assault on its consulate in Damascus. Understanding these unfolding events requires contextualizing them within the broader geopolitical landscape, where regional power dynamics intersect with longstanding conflicts and resistance movements.
Israeli settlers expelled under Resistance fire
Since October 7, the Israeli government has made public the displacement of over 250,000 Israeli settlers from their settlements. These settlements, largely constructed on land ethnically cleansed of its indigenous Palestinian and Arab communities, have become targets of Resistance operations spanning both northern and southern regions of occupied Palestine.
In the south, particularly in the Gaza envelope, where Palestinians besieged in the Gaza Strip once resided, a comprehensive evacuation has taken place after the Palestinian Resistance breached the Israeli separation walls and entered the settlements before showering its vicinity with missiles that have even reached “Tel Aviv” on multiple occasions.
The evacuation has significantly reduced the presence of settlers along the borders of the besieged Strip. Many settlers have relocated to central “Israel”, while others have scattered throughout the occupied territories. Some have chosen to return to their countries of origin, primarily in Europe or the Americas, based on their nationality prior to settling in “Israel”.
In the north, Resistance operations, spearheaded by Hezbollah and other factions, compelled Israeli settlers to evacuate settlements bordering Lebanon by a depth of 5 to 8 kilometers as reportedly revealed by Israeli journalists and Resistance sources.
While unprecedented since the so-called inception of “Israel”, these evacuations were anticipated. Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah previously underscored that in the next war with “Israel”, settlers would be forced to abandon their settlements, and while this is not even a widescale war, his words proved to be true once again. This strategic shift aims to bring the conflict to “Israel” rather than allow “Israel” to instigate hostilities against Lebanon, as it did in 2006 and 2000.
As Israeli deterrence erodes, it becomes increasingly apparent to settlers that they face an irreversible choice: either leave occupied Palestine or occupy another Palestinian home elsewhere in occupied Palestine.
Making up for what was lost on October 7
Israeli settlers faced a new reality following October 7, even vis-a-vis their daily life. Displaced settlers are now facing declining living standards after having initially migrated to “Israel” in pursuit of the material gains they had been promised once they settled in
Instead, settlers are now struggling, not even to preserve their privileges against indigenous Palestinians, but to merely meet their daily needs as they lose their homes and the rest of the material gains they were promised at a time when the IOF has clearly failed to achieve any of its goals in the Strip or across the Northern Front – another issue which eliminates hope for Israeli settlers that things could get better in the foreseeable future.
IOF-backed Israeli settlers attacked several villages and towns in the occupied West Bank on Saturday and opened fire on Palestinians and their properties.
Among the villages targeted by the settlers were Duma, Baytin, Turmusaya, Atara, and Deir Dibwan east of the Ramallah and… pic.twitter.com/s8iawFvFyH
Moreover, with the erosion of Israeli deterrence, settlers, once assured of their superiority over other regional powers such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and Iran, to name a few, now seethe with fury at their expulsion from territories they occupied during the 1948 Nakba and the 1967 Six-Day War. This resentment has boiled over, leading to a surge in attacks on Palestinian residents of the West Bank, surpassing previous levels of violence and reoccurring at a more frequent rate.
Simultaneously, Israeli occupation influencers-turned-government officials like Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich have spearheaded efforts to arm all settlers, going beyond the usual military program enforced upon Israeli settlers. The arming, which came under the guise of “fighting terrorism”, aims to revive historic terrorist Zionist organizations such as the Haganah, which conducted the initial Nakba in 1948, killing hundreds and thousands of Palestinians on purely racist grounds to occupy their homes and lands.
It’s crucial to recognize that “Israel’s” ethnic cleansing policies, which intensified notably after the events of Seif al-Quds in 2021 and further escalated following October 7, have emboldened settlers to perpetrate the same crimes of genocide as the Israeli occupation Forces are conducting the Gaza Strip [Over 33,000 martyrs] and the same crimes as the Haganah did in 1948.
Since Friday evening, Israeli settlers have been storming several towns of the occupied West Bank, vandalizing and setting houses and vehicles on fire and physically assaulting Palestinian civilians. pic.twitter.com/OMFa9ZwP0E
Next stop on the path towards liberation: West Bank, East Bank
Looking for alternatives as the Israeli cities become overcrowded and the economy crumbles, settlers go stealing Palestinian homes and ethnically cleansing entire villages to accommodate their needs. This is not new, as we all remember the Israeli proverb put forward by the settler Yacob: “If I don’t steal it, someone else is gonna steal it.”
The killing of Palestinians and the destruction of their homes by settlers, under the protection of Israeli occupation forces, is fueling anger among the Palestinian people. This anger is exacerbated by the Israeli occupation government’s continuous announcement of new land seizures, extending over dozens of dunums in the West Bank, and even in al-Quds’ Sheikh Jarrah.
Coupled with widespread detention campaigns, assassinations, military raids, and other oppressive practices, this situation is pushing people toward embracing armed Resistance as the only means to achieve a free Palestine and live with dignity.
It is also important to note that in the West Bank, the Resistance has already begun establishing liberated zones, particularly across the triangle of hell: Jenin, Nablus, and Tulkarm. However, recent settler attacks have targeted areas in the Ramallah and Nablus governorates, farther from the refugee camps where the Resistance has garnered strong popular support and found a conducive environment to thrive.
This escalation is likely to ignite a widespread intifada across the West Bank, to expand the operation that was launched on October 7, bringing the war to the heart of occupied Palestine. This is especially likely given that the settler attacks are being conducted under the supervision of the IOF who have besieged multiple cities. These aggressions remain ongoing today, four days on, without stopping except when the Iranian missiles shook “Israel”.
The consequences of such an intifada, given its existential nature, may also provoke unrest across the East Bank of the Jordan River, where approximately 80% of the population is Palestinian.
Iran’s retaliation in context
In turn, Iran’s retaliation can be seen in the context of the West Bank and the historic struggle for the liberation of Palestine and the ending of Western hegemony in the region. This retaliation on Israeli-occupied Palestine consolidated the Axis of Resistance as a series of interconnected rings that had both the military capability and the strategic patience to coordinate operations to achieve a unified goal of an Israeli demise and ultimately US containment in the region.
As such, Iran’s successful cornering of the US and “Israel” in a well-calculated, below-threshold, but fully effective response, has underscored a new era in the struggle for the liberation of Palestine.
This new era grants the Palestinian Resistance a larger margin of operation and limits if not ends “Israel’s” renowned “Campaign Between Wars” which was started in 2013 to “address Iran’s growing threat” following the start of the war on Syria. This means that Israeli deterrence has fallen even deeper than it has on October 7 with Hamas and on October 8 with Hezbollah and later in the face of Yemen and others.
To better understand the depth of that, one must look at Iran’s unprecedented retaliation against “Israel” following an attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus. The retaliation, in fact, underscored the strategic maneuvering at play within the Axis of Resistance.
It stressed that beyond its primary objective of Palestinian liberation, this coalition seeks to dismantle the enduring legacies of colonialism and imperialism, epitomized by pivotal agreements like the Balfour Declaration, which allowed for the establishment of the Israeli occupation as a barrier “state” on occupied Palestinian soil with the aim of expansion and the Sykes-Picot Accords which partitioned the region into multi-purpose entities that serve colonialism.
Amidst escalating tensions and deepening geopolitical fault lines, it is impossible to understand unfolding events without delving into the complex and multifaceted dynamics of the existential war taking place at the heart of the Arab world; the war of the unmaking of the Sykes-Picot Accords.
In a more simplified way, one can explain the broader situation by saying that the Axis is determined to give the US and “Israel” a run for their money in the region. The Resistance movements in the region, backed by Iran and Syria, have one big mission: free Palestine and take down those pesky imperialist structures that have been causing trouble in the Arab and Islamic worlds.
Keep the big picture ahead, save your rage for the right time
Despite the ongoing genocide in which “Israel” has been targeting unarmed civilians, the Resistance continues to stand strong. It continues to conduct ambushes unimaginable by the Israeli occupation forces claiming their lives a dozen at a time.
As the leaders of the Palestinian Resistance have reportedly underscored, be it al-Qassam Brigades or al-Quds Brigades or others, Iran and the Axis of Resistance, especially Syria and Hezbollah, have played a key role in strengthening and transferring expertise to the Strip.
Much like in the Strip, the Axis of Resistance has no intention of allowing the West Bank and its Resistance to be wiped out and has a few tricks up its sleeve to turn the table on “Israel” and the West.
In this context, it must be remembered that the struggle to liberate Palestine extends beyond the entity of Palestine as drawn by the Sykes-Picot Accords but involves the re-emergence of the historic Arab world with Palestine as the compass that has the ability to achieve that through the demise of the barrier “state” otherwise known as “Israel”.
In such situations, events unfold relatively quickly; however, there is no benefit in rushing liberation. Rather it is required to mature slowly in the sense that it becomes inevitable.
Bullet holes on Al Mayadeen’s crew vehicle after the IOF opened fire from the “Misgav Am” outpost toward the al-Odeisseh road in southern Lebanon on April 12, 2024. (Screengrab/ Al Mayade
Israeli occupation forces open fire from the “Misgav Am” outpost toward cars passing the town of al-Odeisseh while Al Mayadeen’s team and a number of civilian vehicles were passing.
On Friday, Israeli occupation forces (IOF) opened fire from the “Misgav Am” outpost toward the southern Lebanese town of al-Odeisseh as Al Mayadeen‘s crew and several civilian vehicles were passing.
Al Mayadeen‘s crew, who were driving a vehicle that was clearly marked PRESS, had evidence of bullet holes as a result of the shooting, but none were injured.
Our correspondent pointed out that the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) witnessed heavy gunfire from the Israeli position towards the al-Odeisseh road.
This is not the first time the IOF target an Al Mayadeen crew.
On November 21, Al Mayadeen‘s correspondent, Farah Omar, and cameraman Rabih Me’mari were murdered in an Israeli airstrike on their location in Tayr Harfa, South Lebanon. An Israeli warplane fired two rockets on Farah and Rabih’s location.
Farah and Rabih had just ended a live broadcast at 10 am, giving updates on the latest Israeli bombardment in South Lebanon. Farah and her colleagues were targeted soon after they wrapped up their coverage and went off air.
In an exclusive interview with Al Mayadeen, the Commander of the IRGC’s Navy, Alireza Tangsiri discusses Iran’s development as a world power, the efforts of the Axis of Resistance to champion and defend Gaza, and the fate of “Israel” and its allies.
Special coverage | The latest developments in the Al-Aqsa flood epic 04-09-2024
Al Mayadeen conducted an interview, which was broadcast on Tuesday, with the commander of the IRGC’s Navy, Admiral Alireza Tangsiri. You can find the full, translated text of the Admiral’s answers below:
I welcome you here, as well as our dear viewers, and welcome to the city of Bandar Abbas and the Strait of Hormuz.
Following the Islamic Revolution’s victory, Washington imposed a complete embargo on Iran, which did not own any material capabilities at the time. Most of our equipment and arsenal were US-made. Later, they would embroil us in an inadequate war against Saddam’s regime, in addition to an abundance of internal conflicts. However, with the grace of God, we managed to persevere and move forward after eight years of war, which prepared us for the upcoming confrontations.
Despite the embargo, sanctions, and economic predicaments Iran was faced with, it was able to advance in multiple military fields, build up its combat strength, manpower, special military training, and manufacture its own equipment.”
“Right now, we are at a level that allows us to export weapons, including rockets, warships, and radars, to naval forces, defense ministries, and armed forces, and we take pride in this capability, which makes rocket and ship manufacturing possible amid the embargo. We also take pride in the size, speed, assimilation, and resistive characteristics of our home-produced ships, which expedites their abilities throughout maritime battles.”
“Today, after over 40 years, we have emerged as a world power, and are the primary decision-makers in West Asia, whether it’s derived from the quality of our manufactured equipment or the preparedness of our armed forces. Today, we are proud to say that Iran is at the forefrontin regional power, and produces all it needs to defend its sovereignty,” he said.
On ‘Israel’s’ crushing defeat in Gaza
Speaking on the genocide in Gaza, Tangsiri described “Israel’s” extensive war as “heinous crimes against the oppressed yet brave and resilient Gaza”.
He revisited the Israeli war objectives from the war and affirmed that the occupation did not manage to achieve a single one.
In detail, the Rear Admiral said:
“They claim three determinants for their success in Gaza:
1. Defeating Hamas, but Hamas is stronger than ever, and sustained fewer losses.
2. The people’s desperation and hopelessness; but look at the highly spirited people in Gaza, who have lost their homes and their loved ones but remained resilient and faithful. The Zionists failed to break Gaza’s defiant and steadfast spirit.
3. The swift elimination of Gaza; but the entire world opposes the Zionists today. The “army” that claimed to be the strongest in West Asia, and third strongest in the world, being supported by the US military with aid and developed weapons used in modern wars, employed to kill Gazan children, has failed to achieve victory, whether militarily, politically, or socially.”
When asked about how such an entity could be fought, Tangsiri stressed the importance of Muslim unity.
“The only way to fight the Zionists is through the formation of an Islamic power and a coalition of Islamic armies. To quote Imam Khomeini, may his soul rest in peace, If every Muslim poured a bucket of water on Israel, it would be washed away.Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. Here, I speak to all Muslim nations that think they would attain greater glory by counting on the Zionists’ friendship. The solution to removing the corruptive and criminal parasite is the unification of all Muslim nations and their armies. If we were united, we could bring an end to it. But this is not what is happening. The Zionists are not only treating Muslims this monstrously but have also shown our Christian brothers and sisters no mercy.
They destroyed churches and massacred Christians in Lebanon. The Zionists are not merciful towards anyone, not even their own supporters.
Unfortunately, the Zionists are striking Muslims with warplanes loaded with fuel supplied by Muslim nations. This is a disgrace, and the solution remains in unity against Zionism to ultimately remove it from existence.”
Iran advocates security in region
Tangsiri also detailed the West’s interests in the region, specifically the United States, and emphasized that Iran has always sought peace and security in the spirit of good neighborliness. However, he did not shy away from condemning the actions Iran’s neighboring countries have undertaken, particularly inviting Zionists into the region.
During talks with neighboring countries regarding the Strait of Hormuz, our message has always been that of peace and friendliness. Iran suffered under the oppression of a tyrant, so it revolted and offered martyrs in the quest for victory, but since then, we have been faced with the enmity of those same countries, as well as the United States and more. The US Army has now come to the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf, but they do not belong in our waters. We previously told our neighbors that the Persian Gulf and Oman’s Sea are national concerns of both them and Iran and that Iran’s security is theirs. We told them the West does not want this region to be stable or secure. The West considers these countries as a “milk cow”, but when the milk runs out, as in oil and gas resources in the region, it would slaughter us.
“Therefore, we have always advocated for the security of the region, and have assured that we can host joint military exercises in the Strait, in collaboration with our brothers from the Persian Gulf’s neighboring countries. We can maintain the region’s peace and security. Our oil and gas terminals are close to those of the neighboring countries. If we really wanted to, we could close these waterways down.
But we do not do this, because as long as we use this waterway and strait, then our neighbors would also have to, and should. But they have to recognize that we will not accept the presence of Zionist supporters in their governments because this is considered a security threat to Iran. We hope they do not make such errors, and reconsider their choices. Should the enemy come and restrain us, and act provocatively in an attempt to incite change in the region, then that is a different issue, to which a different decision would be made, at a later time.
Zionists in countries neighboring Iran
He revealed that Iran is now the main proponent for security of the region and that of the Hormuz Strait, and the constant traffic of more than 85 tankers carrying oil and gas cargo that safely pass through the strait every day.
However, he revealed that the arrival of the Zionists to the region, and their settlement within countries neighboring Iran, does not speak to peace or good neighborliness.
“Iran has relations with Arab countries, and the seven nations of Oman, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iraq, but bringing Zionists to our region… We know full well that they do not come for economic purposes or to establish bilateral relations between those countries and the child-killing criminals the world has begun rejecting.”
“What does it mean for a country to take pride in welcoming Zionists to the region?”, he asked.
“What are we to understand from such a gesture to us, to a country whose sea spans the entire length of the Persian Gulf, to a country that has beaches in the sea of Oman, to a country with such glory and greatness? Should we not consider this a threat? Is bringing Zionists to a neighboring country not a threat? They should acknowledge that if harm comes in our country’s way, then the place they came from will cease to exist. If they [neighboring countries] were indeed looking for security, then they would know that there is no room for Zionists in the region.
“I assure you, once again, that we would not attack a Muslim country unless it attacked us… Before the Islamic Revolution’s triumph, Iran had a Ministry of War. Today, we have a Ministry of Defense instead, which signifies that we would not attack any country if we were not attacked or conspired against. Those who choose to conspire and attack us though, will receive a hard blow, just like Saddam and his movement did.
“Therefore, we do not make threats and do not accept threats. Sometimes, a threat is merely speech. The Zionists’ presence in neighboring countries, which we fully acknowledge is not for economic purposes, but rather military and security ones, is a threat that should not materialize. This is a consideration we should always keep in mind.
US forces present in our neighbors’ waters
On the role of the US in the region, Tangsiri affirmed that it is but a plot to incite rifts and destabilize the region and its peace.
The US forces, he stated, are not present in Iran’s waters or territory. However, they are unfortunately present in Iran’s neighbors’ waters, not international ones.
“The United States should realize that the Persian Gulf is not an international sea, but Iran’s and its neighboring countries’. The US does not sail in international waters strait passing through our islands. We are constantly monitoring them, their movements, actions, and behavior. Our naval mission, under the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, is to defend our facilities in the Persian Gulf. We believe that if they enter the region, with their nuclear equipment, then the waters would not be viable for use for years after. We would be the ones affected by their presence.
But it is of their nature to create enemies, why? First, for weapons. And for an excuse to sell weapons. If there was no enemy to fight, then the region would not need weapons. Second, to ensure their presence in the region… If they did not claim an enemy was present in the region, then they would not need to remain in it. If they did, then it would be unjustifiable.
“Therefore, the constant sales of arms and weapons and their illegal presence in the region necessitates their claim of Iran being an enemy to its neighboring countries. If one of these countries gets attacked tomorrow, they will set fire to this land, leave it, and leave us affected. Which is why we should all remain careful and wary.”
The Resistance’s Mission
When asked about the Axis of Resistance, its emergence, and its role in the region, the IRGC commander stated that the Resistance’s mission has always been to champion Palestine and its liberation against “Israel” and its allies.
“The Axis of Resistance has always responded to threats in defense of the Palestinian people, because their lands are occupied and because Gaza’s resilient people are oppressed. We had never seen a people as resistant as that of Gaza. Countries backing the Zionists should be ashamed of themselves. The US supplied the Zionists with special bombs, which were dropped on women and children in Gaza. France, Britain, and others rushed to back the criminal, dirty, malicious, and child-killing Netanyahu… I do not know, are they really human? Do they call themselves human? A little child in fear, and shaking like that… a torn up child and a mother holding her children… I saw a father holding his martyred children in his hands… These countries are only helping this criminal. I believe the blood of over 14,000 children and women and all those innocents will seek retribution for their sins and will be the reason for “Israel’s” demise and end.
Their message was clear: Defend the occupation. And they announced the reason for their presence in the region in the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. If you recall, in the early days of the war, a US aircraft carrier traveled through the Strait of Gibraltar and remained stationed in the Mediterranean.
What is the message it is carrying? That it intends to defend the Israeli occupation, which marks an eternal disgrace for them [the US]. The United States, in all its might – as it claims – and capabilities, and Britain and its capabilities, as well as France… They all came to murder innocent people. How could they raise their heads high as a moral army? Every army has pride, but it comes from respecting and adhering to the laws of war. But this is not a war. This is a people, in a very small land, surrounded and defenseless. But God is with them, and through Him, they will prevail.
At the start of this interview, I noted that the Zionists are so far defeated, and have not achieved any of their war objectives. Did they retrieve their captives? No. Did they destroy Hamas? No. Were they able to achieve their goal of victory? No, they did not emerge victorious, defeat Hamas, or release the hostages. So, they lost. It has been six months. And we cannot forget that six Arab Muslim nations did not achieve victory in the six-day war,” the leader reiterated.
Yemen, Hezbollah role in war
During the interview, Tangsiri was also asked about Yemen and Hezbollah’s role in the war against “Israel”.
To that, he stated that Hezbollah today is heroic, it is far stronger than it was at the beginning of the war, but until this moment, Hezbollah has not responded to the Zionist enemy, and were it to respond, it would have been an onslaught. Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah had previously announced that Hezbollah’s response would be fierce. Yemen today is much more solid than before, and Iraq and Iraqi Hezbollah are far stronger than before… The Resistance movements that surround the Zionist entity are the more powerful…
He called for trust in the Resistance, saying, “Do not worry about the Resistance; it is today capable of doing everything, and it is far stronger than it was in the earlier days of the war.”
Attack on Iranian consulate
Commenting on the Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria, he denounced the deliberate airstrike and highlighted the West’s hypocrisy in that regard.
According to Tangsiri, this crime did not happen in any other war. Embassies are meant to be safe places and are considered the territory of their respective countries. In that embassy, there were not only military advisors, but also women, children, and men.
“This attack is a crime. First of all, if we had done this, which we would never have, they would have strongly condemned us for committing such a crime. Look at the world, at the Europeans who watch these crimes and support themost corrupt people, and at the US which plays a very democratic and liberating role… We expected the United Nations to confront this crime more firmly, but they paved the way for us to do away with this ugliness.”
He also reaffirmed that Iran intends to respond to “Israel” for its crime.
“As our dear leader said, it will be responded to, but we do not act impulsively or hastily. We are not the kind of people who turn the other cheek after being hit. At the appropriate time, the relevant officials will deliver a strong blow, God willing. At the head of our armed forces is a scholar who knows God, is patient, wise, and rational and logically governs the Iranian armed forces. We act and respond when we see fit. But we will definitely respond, and as the leader said, we will not leave the matter unanswered.
“We are a force ready for battle. We are military men. We are ready for any mission they order us to carry out. Do you expect me to say what we will do? That is not correct. We are 100% ready for any order that may be issued. Today, the naval forces of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps and our heroic army are ready to pluck out the eye of anyone who wants to harm our country and will carry out the orders that may be issued at the appropriate time.”
Western powers have brought in their ships to support the occupation, but the brave Yemenis withstood against them. As our leader said, if Yemen was not under siege, we would have certainly aided it. Yemen today produces its own artillery, missiles, and boats, and is standing strong against the enemies, against the US and Britain, in support of the oppressed people of Palestine and Gaza.
Glorious Yemen
Discussing Yemen’s development as a Resistance power as well, Tangsiri said that after eight years of an imposed and harsh war against the country, Ansar Allah, and the Yemeni Army, it has now reached a level where it can confront great powers such as the United States.
He said that Ansar Allah is manufacturing missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and has established a naval force, despite the embargo and sanctions imposed on the country.
Sayyed Abdul-Malik al-Houthi affirmed that they could target the West’s ships, even if they were in Southern Africa. Today, Tangsiri said, Ansar Allah is targeting ships 600, 700, and even 1,000 kilometers away. Day after day, Ansar Allah keeps developing its capabilities. There are brave men taking control of the force and defending their country.
He stressed Yemen’s independence from Iran despite being allied and part of the Axis of Resistance, against claims that Resistance factions in the region serve as Iran’s proxies.
“Yemen is an independent country, and the Resistance is an independent force that was born to crush oppression. Yemen and its Resistance do not wait for our orders, but we are indeed concerned with the Resistance.
“We love the Palestinians, and we support anyone who takes a stance against oppression and struggles in the fight for the cause. We saw injustice in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and although we did not have common borders with them, and their population included both Muslims and non-Muslims, we helped them and offered them moral support, and never fell short in the help we could offer. We stand with the oppressed. We love and appreciate the men of the Resistance in Yemen, and take pride in them. The Islamic world must take pride in them. They do not need a force that leads them, because they have a leader. Just like Hezbollah has a leader, and Yemen and Iraq have leaders, and they act based on their interests. They have enough wisdom to know when and how to act.”
The Final Message
Before concluding the interview, the IRGC admiral called on Muslim nations, specifically those neighboring Iran, and said ‘Life is fleeting, and if we do not defend those that are oppressed, we will be asked about it on Judgment Day. I am addressing Muslim leaders who own the means of governing. Take the opportunity, because while Christians and followers of other religions protest in solidarity with Gaza, it is a disgrace that Arab countries do not hold such marches and protests.’
I also wish to address the leaders that are fueling the Zionist enemy’s jetplanes… [How can] they take our oil and turn it into fuel for a bomb they drop over the heads of Muslims who say ‘There is no god but God, God is great, and God is sufficient for us’? Are they not the people that are dropping bombs on Gaza’s people? The war will end, and God willing, The people of Gaza will emerge victorious. But what have we offered during this time?
“We ask God to raise the martyrs of Gaza and the Resistance, whether in our dear Lebanon, dear Iraq, or dear Yemen, to where the prophet of God and his holy Imams rest.”
In his last address to the Al Mayadeen crew conducting the interview, he expressed his thanks, saying “I profoundly thank you, particularly for coming here twice. Forgive us for the warm weather, and perhaps the circumstances were more difficult for you, but we fully know that your cameras are important, and powerful, just like Al Mayadeen. It is the voice of the oppressed, and you represent their voices. God willing, He will note what you have done for the oppressed, and you will hold your heads high before the Resistance’s martyrs and the oppressed people of Gaza.”
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Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah stressed on Monday that the Israeli folly of striking the Iranian consulate in Damascus and assassinating the top military advisor General Mohammad Reda Zahedi and his martyred companions pushed the US President Joe Biden to impose certain limits on Netanyahu’s adventure in Gaza.
Sayyed Nasrallah cited Zionist analysts as describing the airstrike on the consulate as a major folly, adding that the Israeli officials may have fallen in the miscalculation that Iran would not respond.
US, ‘Israel’ and the whole world have yielded to the fact that Iran has the right to respond to the Zionist crime and will respond, Hezbollah Chief said.
In this regard, Sayyed Nasrallah explained the nature of the Iranian military role in Syria, confirming that only advisors are deployed in order to carry out certain missions and denying the deployment of troops.
His eminence added that the IRGC military advisors in Syria have been always targeted by the Israeli air raids aimed at expelling them and eradicating their role in that country.
Sayyed Nasrallah noted that all the diplomatic missions in the world include military attaches and advisors, yet that the Israeli enemy tried to promote the false claim of striking Iranian troops in Syria.
One of the Gulf states provided Saddam Hussein with 200 billion dollars to fund his war on Iran, Sayyed Nasrallah said, adding that, had such an amount of money been granted to the serious resistance groups, ‘Israel’ would not be in existence nowadays.
The need of the popular resistance to face the the Zionist enemy made the IRGC cadres train the fighters, provide consultations, grant the logistical support, and convey the expertise to all the resistance groups, according to Sayyed Nasrallah who confirmed that the IRGC advisors were not tasked with fighting the Israeli enemy in the battlefields.
Even upon the eruption of the crisis in Syria, Iran sent military advisors, not troops, Sayyed Nasrallah said, adding that only resistance groups in the region decided to support Syria in face of the terrorist groups.
‘Israel’ participated in the war in Syria through supporting the terrorist groups by all means, according to Sayyed Nasrallah who recalled the Zionist financial, medical, and military support to takfiri groups.
Sayyed Nasrallah also denied the false claims that Iran controls the government in Syria, stressing that the IRGC advisors have just supported Syria against the terrorist groups.
Martyr Zahedi
In his twenties, Hajj Zahedi was one of the warriors against Saddam Hussein’s war and gained a great military expertise, which enabled him to be promoted to high ranks, according to Sayyed Nasrallah.
Hajj Zahedi became the commander of the IRGC airforce before turning to be the commander of the IRGC ground troops, Sayyed Nasrallah said, adding that the martyr was then promoted to be the commander of all IRGC operations.
Sayyed Nasrallah indicated that Hajj Zahedi started his jihadi journey when General Qassem Suleimani appointed him as the IRGC commander in Lebanon and Syria in 1998 for four years.
Hajj Zahedi followed up the liberation in 2000 and the period of preparing the military capabilities to face any Zionist aggression on Lebanon, Sayyed Nasrallah said.
“We expected that the Zionists will take the revenge and wage a war on Lebanon.”
After the martyrdom of Hezbollah military commander Hajj Imad Mughniyeh in 2008, Hajj Zahedi was appointed to be the IRGC commander in Lebanon and Syria for six years, Sayyed Nasrallah said.
After the martyrdom of Hajj Qassem Suleimani in 2020, Hajj Zahedi was appointed again as the IRGC commander in Lebanon and Syria till he was assassinated, Sayyed Nasrallah added.
Sayyed Nasrallah underlined the modesty, baldness, loyalty, and bravery of Hajj Zahedi, noting that he used to attend the scene amid all conditions.
Sayyed Nasrallah narrated how Hajj Zahedi was committed to the path of martyrdom, adding that the martyr wanted to join the resistance fighters in their border battle against the Israeli enemy since October 7.
Hezbollah Chief said that Hajj Zahedi abandoned all ranks in Iran and came to the jihadi field in Lebanon in order to embrace martyrdom.
Israeli War on Gaza
Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah cited Israeli interpretations of the outcomes of the Zionist war on Gaza, stressing they highlight the enemy’s area in this regard.
Sayyed Nasrallah pointed out that the Israeli interpretations mention the various failures of the Zionist enemy after six months of the war, including the prisoners issue, missile fire from the Strip, Rafah operation, deaths, evacuation of settlements, diplomatic collapse, economic complication, political and social woes.
Sayyed Nasrallah also cited a survey conducted by Maariv which indicated that 62% of the respondents are not satisfied with the outcomes of the war.
Out of context, Netanyhau claims that he is one step away from the victory, Sayyed Nasrallah said, adding that the Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant alleged that his troops defeated Hamas just hours before the Zionist withdrawal from Khan Younis.
“Gallant is also detached from the realities.”
Sayyed Nasrallah said that the IOF managed only to commit a genocide and cause a massive destruction and failed to reach any target.
Sayyed Nasrallah maintained that, amid this military failure and the Iranian consulate folly in Syria, Biden held a phone call with Netanyhau to warn him against the continuation of the war on Gaza.
According to the White House statements and the US media, Biden asked Netanyahu to take certain measures pertaining to the killing of the relief workers, Sayyed Nasrallah said.
Just hours later, the IOF Chief of Staff sacked two officers and rebuked three others, Sayyed Nasrallah said, adding that even the aid corridors issue was decided during the phone calls, according to the US reports.
Hezbollah Chief emphasized that the US administration’s conduct proves that it can force the Israelis to stop the war whenever they decide, highlighting the major role of Biden in the ceasefire talks.
Sayyed Nasrallah considered that the Israeli military withdrawal from South Gaza was surprising, adding that the Israelis wanted to avoid making concessions in the ceasefire talks since the withdrawal is one of the basic terms of Hamas in the negotiations.
Hermes-900
Hezbollah leader stressed that, when the Islamic Resistance downed Hermses-450 drone, the enemy bombed Bekaa, adding that the Resistance responded by firing missiles at Golan.
Bekaa-Golan formula has been maintained since then, Sayyed Nasrallah maintained.
Sayyed Nasrallah indicated that the Islamic Resistance will certainly cross the Israeli red lines amid the Zionist violations, adding that the enemy would understand the deployment of the Resistance defenses on the Southern Front as it wants.
Lebanese Forces and Kataeb
On the anniversary of the civil war in Lebanon, Sayyed Nasrallah asked the Lebanese Forces and Kataeb about the war’s decision making at that time.
Sayyed Nasrallah indicated that such political always question the resistance about the war decision making and its costs, while they involved Lebanon in a costly civil war.
Sayyed Nasrallah also commented on the kidnap incident in Jbeil city, adding that Lebanese Forces and Kataeb’s reaction is a scandal.
Sayyed Nasrallah maintained that grudge, foolishness and connections with foreign schemes have been behind those parties’ anti-Hezbollah accusations.
Sayyed Nasrallah hailed the role of the Lebanese army and security forces in uncovering the culprits in the crime, which frustrates the scheme of accusing Hezbollah of being behind the kidnap crime and stirring sedition.
Sayyed Nasrallah, finally, warned against the threats sent to some of Jbeil locals after the kidnap incident, asserting that this is a very serious issue.
Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah stressed on Friday that Iran’s retaliation for targeting its consulate in Syria earlier this week is inevitable.
In a masss ceremony marking International Al-Quds Day in Beirut’s southern suburb (Dahiyeh), Sayyed Nasrallah said that the Israeli folly committed in the Iranian consulate in Damascus will lead to victory and enable the Axis of Resistance of having the final word in the battle.
The Lebanese resistance leader dismissed Israeli threats of waging an inclusive war against Lebanon, saying: “They (Israelis) don’t know what to do in Gaza and want to attack Lebanon!”
His eminence, meanwhile, reiterated that Hezbollah is fully ready to confront any Israeli war on Lebanon, stressing that the resistance never fears the war.
Sayyed Nasrallah assured that after six months of the war on Gaza, the Israeli enemy faces failures and is neither capable of destroying Hamas nor capable of releasing captives captured by the Palestinian resistance during Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.
He stressed that Op. Al-Aqsa Flood is a critical juncture that has put the Israeli existence in danger.
Iranian Retaliation
Starting his speech, Sayyed Nasrallah offered condolences over martyrdom of top IRGC generals in the Israeli strike which targeted the Iranian consulate in the Syrian capital, Damascus last Monday.
He lauded top general Mohammad Reza Zahedi, who was martyred in the Israeli strike, as a commander who had favor upon Hezbollah and contributed to the development of the Lebanese resistance.
Sayyed Nasrallah announced that a ceremony will be held next Monday (April 8) in honor of the Iranian generals martyred in the Israeli strike on the Islamic Republic’s consulate in Damascus.
“The attack on the Iranian consulate is a pivotal moment in this battle.”
His eminence then elaborated on Iran’s support to Al-Quds and Palestine, saying that founder of the Islamic Republic Imam Sayyed Ruhollah Mousavi Khomeini had a clear and firm stance towards the Palestinian cause.
He noted that the Islamic Republic’s unwavering support to Palestine is one of the prominent causes behind the wars waged against Iran.
“The Islamic Republic offered enormous sacrifices on economic, political and security levels because of this position.”
Sayyed Nasrallah then lashed out at those who claim that Iran is engaged in talks with the United States on several files regarding regional issues.
“The US has repeatedly voiced desire to hold talks with Iran but the Islamic Republic was reluctant. Iran has not compromised and will never do so on the regional issues.”
“Relation with Iran is a source of pride, those who must feel ashamed are those who seek to normalize ties with the Zionist entity,” Sayyed Nasrallah stressed.
Video subtitled by Mohammad Salami
Sayyed Nasrallah stressed then that “Iran’s retaliation to the Israeli strike on Syria consulate is inevitable.”
“The folly committed by Netanyahu through targeting the Iranian consulate in Syria will hopefully lead to end this battle and emerge victorious.”
“The timing of the Iranian response is part of the battle, but the timing, place and size of the response are in the hands of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei and the Iranian leaders.
Israeli Failure in Gaza
Sayyed Nasrallah noted that “International Al-Quds Day is different this year as it comes six months after Operation Al-Aqsa Flood” on October 7.
He described the heroic operation in which hundreds of Hamas resistance fighters invaded Gaza envelope settlements and captured more than 200 Israelis as a “a critical juncture that has put the Israeli existence in danger.”
The Hezbollah leader stressed that six months after the brutal Israeli war on Gaza, Zionist officials are not able to secure the goals they had set at the start of the aggression.
“Six months following the war, (Israeli PM Benjamin) Netanyahu, (DM Yoav) Gallant and other Israeli officials are still out of their minds.”
Nasrallah to Netanyahu: whether or not you go to Rafah you have lost the war. No Israeli military objectives were reached in six months, and they hide their own casualties. https://t.co/MUwK7MwLWCpic.twitter.com/fqHpfx97M5
“Netanyahu has no choice but to stop the war, and this is a mere defeat.”
Resistance Fully Ready
Sayyed Nasrallah, meanwhile, hit back at Israeli threats of an inclusive war against Lebanon. He dismissed such threats, wondering how the Israeli would attack Lebanon if they already don’t know what to do in Gaza and how to deal with failures there.
His eminence stressed that the Lebanese front “won’t be closed as it is highly linked to Gaza,” affirming that “this is a firm decision.”
He stressed that the Resistance in Lebanon is fully ready and its morale is in large sense.
“We haven’t used our major weapons yet. Our fighters are going on their home leave as usual.
“The Resistance in Lebanon doesn’t fear war, we are fully ready to engage in a war that the enemy will regret.”
“The enemy knows well what a war with Lebanon means, if they want war then hello and welcome!”
Sayyed Nasrallah affirmed that the resistance in Lebanon we will proceed with this battle until victory, stating: “Great victory is awaiting the Axis of Resistance.”
Nasrallah to Netanyahu: whether or not you go to Rafah you have lost the war. No Israeli military objectives were reached in six months, and they hide their own casualties. https://t.co/MUwK7MwLWCpic.twitter.com/fqHpfx97M5
Sayyed Nasrallah, meanwhile, hit back at Israeli threats of an inclusive war against Lebanon. He dismissed such threats, wondering how the Israeli would attack Lebanon if they already don’t know what to do in Gaza and how to deal with failures there.
His eminence stressed that the Lebanese front “won’t be closed as it is highly linked to Gaza,” affirming that “this is a firm decision.”
He stressed that the Resistance in Lebanon is fully ready and its morale is in large sense. “We haven’t used our major weapons yet. Our fighters are going on their home leave as usual. “The Resistance in Lebanon doesn’t fear war, we are fully ready to engage in a war that the enemy will regret.”
“The enemy knows well what a war with Lebanon means, if they want war then hello and welcome!”
Sayyed Nasrallah affirmed that the resistance in Lebanon we will proceed with this battle until victory, stating: “Great victory is awaiting the Axis of Resistance.”
“Six months on the war, Netanyahu is neither capable of destroying Hamas nor capable of releasing the captives,” Sayyed Nasrallah said, stressing that the Israeli atrocities carried out in Gaza are out of failure and lack of options.
“The Israeli enemy has no idea about the post-war scenario in Gaza, Netanyahu has no political horizon. He can neither solve Israeli internal problems, nor deal with the political isolation the Zionist entity faces worldwide.
“Netanyahu has no choice but to stop the war, and this is a mere defeat.”
🔴LIVE: Secretary General of the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah delivers speech on Intl. Quds Day #QudsDay2024https://t.co/KnBvXK77Az
Imam Khamenei lauded General Zahedi, saying he “had been awaiting martyrdom since the 1360s AH [1980s] when fighting in dangerous battlefields.”
“The martyrs haven’t lost anything and have received their reward,” the Leader said, noting that “the grief of losing them weighs heavily on the Iranian nation, especially those who knew them.” For his part, President Ebrahim Raisi pledged that Monday’s fatal strike will not go unanswered. In a statement released on Tuesday morning, Raisi said the usurping Zionist regime has brazenly violated international law by committing the terrorist crime of attacking the diplomatic building of Iran in Damascus.
Condemning the “inhumane assault in brazen violation of the international regulations”, the Iranian president said the Israeli regime has resorted to blind assassination attacks after successive defeats and failures in the face of the Axis of Resistance.
On the other hand, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant hinted at the strike, saying that the Zionist entity goal is to “act everywhere, every day to prevent the force build-up of our enemies.”
Israeli DM Yoav Gallant during a Knesset meeting (April 2, 2024).
“We are in a multi-front war, in the offense and defense. We see evidence of this every day, including in recent days,” he said at a meeting of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, as quoted by Israeli media.
Hezbollah condemned as “idiotic” the Israeli attack that killed top Iranian generals in the Islamic Republic’s consulate in Syria’s Damascus, stressing that the assassination won’t go unpunished.
In a statement, Hezbollah Media Relations mourned seven IRGC generals and military advisers who were martyred in the Israeli strike on the consular section of the Iranian embassy in Damascus.
“As we mourn the dear brother (top IRGC general) Mohammad Reza Zahedi and his companions, we do believe that their virtuous blood will make this front more determined to confront this bloodthirsty enemy which has killed so far tens of thousands of Gaza’s children and women,” the statement, carried by Al-Manar read.
“This crime indicates that the enemy is still on its idiotic path which says the that assassination of leaders would stop the roaring tide of the peoples’ resistance. Certainly, this crime will not pass without the enemy receiving punishment and revenge.”
General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, top IRGC general who was martyred on Monday (April 1, 2024).
“On the 21st day of the holy month of Ramadan, the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Ali bin Abi Talib (a.s.), the day when the virtuous blood is sacrificed in defense of righteousness, oppressed people and the lofty divine principles… On this day General Mohammad Reza Zahedi and General Mohammad Hadi Hajirahimi, as well as the dear brothers Hossein Amanollahi, Mahdi Jalalati, Mohsen Sedaqat, Ali Aqababaee, and Ali Salehi Ruzbehani joined the convoy of martyrdom as a result of the Israeli crime which targeted the consular section of the Iranian embassy in Damascus.”
Hezbollah laud martyr Zahedi as one of the first supporters who sacrificed theirselves and contributed for long years to developing the performance of the resistance in Lebanon.
The Lebanese resistance group offered deepest condolences to Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution in Iran Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei and the IRGC leadership, particularly the Quds Force command on martyrdom of the Iranian generals.
The veiled details behind the recent visit of Wafiq Safa, head of Hezbollah’s Liaison and Coordination Unit, to the UAE remain undisclosed. Rumors propagated by Saudi media have tried to insinuate that the Lebanese resistance party aims to placate its stance towards Israel, possibly even contemplating concessions.
This narrative seeks to undermine or distort any real achievements gained during the rare trip. Despite all the conjecture, one development is undeniable: there has been a nascent shift in thawing the longstanding hostilities between Hezbollah and the UAE — a prominent Arab ally of both the US and Israel.
Strained relations
The sudden revelation of Safa’s visit to the Persian Gulf state on 19 March was indeed astonishing — a first by a senior Hezbollah official in many years — particularly given Abu Dhabi’s active role in clamping down on even pro-Hezbollah sentiments within the UAE.
The UAE’s track record includes arbitrary arrests and expulsions of Lebanese nationals under all sorts of dubious charges, often subjecting them to inhumane treatment, exemplified tragically in the case of Lebanese businessman Ghazi Ezzeldin, who was tortured to death while in Emirati custody last year.
News reports suggest that seven Lebanese citizens — four serving life sentences; two others facing 15 years in prison — remain incarcerated in the Emirates under charges of laundering funds for Hezbollah and Iran, and for the spurious claim of having made contact with Hezbollah. All of the detainees deny these charges.
In short, UAE authorities need little justification to accuse Lebanese individuals of ties to Hezbollah, which is designated a terrorist entity in the Emirates.
The UAE, it should be noted, is Tel Aviv’s closest Arab ally in West Asia, marked by Abu Dhabi’s decision in 2020 to normalize relations with the occupation state — with Bahrain, the first Arab state in the Persian Gulf to do so. Despite Israel’s genocidal war against Gaza, economic ties between the UAE and Israel continue to flourish, further entrenching their alliance against common adversaries.
Against this backdrop, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad emerges as an unexpected mediator, leveraging his amicable relations with the UAE leadership, united in their opposition to the Muslim Brotherhood.
Behind the scenes, the UAE has been quietly leveraging its international clout to lift US Caesar Act sanctions on Syria, with an eye on participating in the war-torn country’s reconstruction efforts. As the first Arab state to break Assad’s diplomatic isolation, the UAE has now seized the opportunity to engage with Hezbollah via its renewed Damascus channel.
Preliminary discussions, facilitated by Syrian General Intelligence Director Major General Hossam Louka, bridged the gap between the two parties. These exchanges, held on Syrian soil, involved representatives from both Hezbollah and UAE officials.
Louka also visited Lebanon and the UAE to meet with Emirati officials and the leadership of Hezbollah and convey a detailed message to Assad.
Contrary to the many sensationalized reports in regional media, informed sources tell The Cradle that Safa encountered no explicit demands from UAE officials during his visit. Instead, discussions centered on two pivotal objectives: first, securing the release of Lebanese detainees unjustly incarcerated in the UAE under charges of affiliation with Hezbollah, and second, improving the precarious conditions Lebanese expatriates face in the UAE, where their presence is securitized by the state.
The sources affirm the constructive nature of the meetings and indicate there may be imminent releases of the Lebanese detainees before the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
What do both parties want?
But the timing of Safa’s visit, as Israel escalates airstrikes on Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza, raises speculation about the implications of this renewed relationship. Safa himself is on a US sanctions list, while Hezbollah retains its designation as a terrorist organization by both Washington and the Persian Gulf states.
The UAE, having previously subjected Lebanese nationals to unjust treatment, now initiates efforts to mend ties with Hezbollah. Conversely, Hezbollah, having waged a war to free prisoners from Israeli detention, displays a willingness to engage in dialogue, even if the optics of its representative shaking hands with UAE officials may not be well-received back home.
Following the visit, Hezbollah issued a very brief statement:
“The head of the Liaison and Coordination Unit, Hajj Wafiq Safa, visited the United Arab Emirates as part of the ongoing follow-up to address the case of a number of Lebanese detainees there, where he met with a number of officials concerned with this case, and [a solution to this issue will be reached hopefully].“
Nevertheless, the underlying question remains: What does the UAE seek to achieve? Did it initiate this thaw in relations merely to reopen its embassy in Lebanon after years of closure and diplomatic strife? Does the UAE have hidden intentions concealing these superficial objectives — and what role could Hezbollah play in this equation?
Outreach to Iran via its allies
Early this year, as the regional war expanded, CIA Director William Burns wrote in Foreign Affairs magazine: “The key to Israel’s — and the region’s — security is dealing with Iran.”
Abu Dhabi too, knows that the relationship with Tehran is pivotal to resolving crises in the region. Hence, the UAE has taken a significant stride towards Hezbollah, recognizing its critical regional role. While this unusual meeting could have taken place in Damascus, in secret, the UAE opted instead for a public airing and even arranged for Safa’s transportation via plane to the Emirates.
Moreover, Abu Dhabi’s interest in improving relations with Hezbollah and its leadership could have direct security benefits. The Lebanese party has influence with Yemen’s Ansarallah resistance movement, whose naval operations in the Red Sea and other waterways are impacting international navigation and, thus, Emirati interests from the Persian Gulf to the Horn of Africa.
While a Syrian source tells The Cradle that the meeting yielded positive outcomes and is likely to be followed by further engagements, the visit carries implications that extend well beyond the immediate parties involved.
Beyond improving Hezbollah-UAE or Iran-UAE understandings, it will be essential to monitor the subsequent actions of Saudi Arabia’s leadership after this event.
In essence, these developments could lead to improved future relations between Hezbollah and Arab states of the Persian Gulf, in turn reversing Washington and Tel Aviv’s strategic target of clinching further normalization deals for Israel in West Asia.
The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of The Cradle.
Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah addressed on Friday the worshippers in Beirut’s Dahiyeh and elsewhere marking the First Night of Al-Qadr (Night of Power), tackling the various religious aspects of the occasion.
In this regard, Sayyed Nasrallah underlined the importance prayers and resorting to the divine power in order to face the earthly challenges, including the current confrontation with the Israeli enemy in Lebanon, Gaza and other areas.
Sayyed Nasrallah ridiculed the antagonistic propaganda which claims that calling for prayers reflects Resistance weakness in the battlefield, adding that reading a prayer is vital during the time of woes and bliss similarly.
Holy God’s support has always helped us to defeat the Israeli enemy despite the discrepancy of the military capabilities, Sayyed Nasrallah said.
Having established a 1:1 kill ratio in the past six months of border clashes, Hezbollah has now set its sights on high-value Israeli targets to counter Tel Aviv’s strikes into Lebanon’s geographic depth.
Since 8 October, more than 230 Israeli soldiers have been killed by Hezbollah fighters in cross-border operations against the occupation state, according to field data obtained by The Cradle.
This suggests that the Lebanese resistance has achieved parity in the number of forces killed by both sides during the past six months of military clashes.
This feat is as significant as it is impressive, given that “relatively poorly armed and usually outnumbered popular resistance forces never achieve a 1:1 ratio against high-tech, heavily weaponized colonialist and neo-colonialist forces,” as noted by one analyst in the aftermath of Israel’s 2006 war on Lebanon.
Hezbollah’s new ‘targets ratio’
While Hezbollah honors the martyrdoms of its fallen fighters by disclosing both name and number, the Israeli military tightly controls its casualty information flow, masking the true extent of its losses and downplaying the significance of crucial Israeli installations struck by Hezbollah drones and missiles in the country’s northern front.
Recent reports suggest258 Hezbollah fighters have been killed since 8 October, while Israel has claimed only 10 fatalities among its forces – a highly improbable figure given Hezbollah’s extensive dissemination of war footage showing its Israeli troop targeting operations.
In comparison, during Israel’s 2006 war on Lebanon, which lasted only 34 days, Hezbollah’s losses are estimated to be around 250 dead fighters versus Israel’s declared 121 troops deaths, although that number is believed to be significantly higher. Ten Israeli deaths on the Lebanese border after six months of ferocious clashes makes little sense in this context.
Arab ‘cannon fodder’ and foreign mercenaries
Tel Aviv adds to this “fog of war” by employing Bedouin and Druze troops on its frontlines to make concealing army deaths easier.
For instance, Israel provides a “material allowance” to the families of soldiers from the Bedouin “Qasasi al-Athar” unit, which is deployed to a number of Israel’s borders – Lebanon, Gaza, Egypt – with a focus on preventing cross-border infiltrations, particularly during times of conflict.
Field estimates indicate that the largest number of Israeli deaths occurred in the ranks of this unit.
In recent years, Israel has launched a series of military propaganda campaigns to showcase the diversity in its ranks. Deputy Army Spokesman “Captain Ayla,” an Arab Jew, organized a 2020 tour at the Lebanese–Palestinian border with a Qasasi al-Athar unit officer named Ali Falah, who works within the Northern Brigade, to highlight the perilous nature of their work at point zero.
It seems that the Israeli military employs the same strategies – paying off the families of dead Bedouin troops – with soldiers from the Arab Druze community, who are part of individual formations and battalions or so-called ‘local defense’ in villages near the Lebanese border.
For instance, 70 percent of the 299th Battalion, which is stationed in the Hurfaish area – four kilometers from the Lebanese border – are members of the Druze community. The battalion has incurred casualties on the deadly front, but Israel has only reported one loss to date.
As with many armies facing decline, mercenaries have become a fixture within the ranks of the Israeli armed forces and are active in the combat units of the Israeli army. Many of these enlisted during the Gaza aggression and have been subsequently deployed to the border with Lebanon.
Despite the active involvement of mercenaries, their deaths often go unacknowledged, and their bodies are quietly repatriated without official recognition as fallen soldiers. Evidence suggests that a significant number of them have perished on the border frontlines.
Declining morale: why Israel hides its death toll
The unprecedented events of the Palestinian resistance’s Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on 7 October have cast an ominous shadow over the entire Israel project, sending shockwaves through every facet of society.
With Tel Aviv’s declaration of total war on Gaza and the sudden eruption of conflict on a second front in southern Lebanon, anxiety reached a fever pitch.
The Israeli military understood that waging a full-scale war on two fronts, particularly against Lebanon, where Hezbollah has raised an army of 100,000 and possesses vastly more sophisticated weaponry and training than the resistance in Palestine, posed insurmountable challenges.
In addition, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government faces unprecedented pressures from multiple domestic fronts: Israeli prisoners held by the resistance factions, the need to achieve stated war objectives in the Gaza Strip, ‘displacement‘ of hundreds of thousands of Israeli settlers in the north, mutiny within his war cabinet, and the catastrophic economic damage resulting from the war.
Consequently, Israel’s security establishment, with the support of the War Council, has pursued a series of policies to address the emerging reality on the northern border, primarily relying on US efforts and diplomatic interventions to return the settlers and free its prisoners – without resorting to military actions that are unlikely to guarantee ideal results.
The pressure from displaced northern settlers, coupled with the growing realization that Hezbollah has imposed a physical, geographic security buffer inside Israel, has heavily influenced the army’s decision to conceal its staggering military losses, both human and material. Tel Aviv does not disclose this data to the public to avoid challenges that may lead to the expansion and uncontrollable escalation of the conflict.
Ratio: quality over depth
In exchange for obscuring its losses, the occupation army seeks to project an image of strength by launching air force raids deep inside Lebanon. These are intended to deter Hezbollah, along with threats by top Israeli officials, such as Chief of Staff and Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, who proclaimed in November: “What we’re doing in Gaza, we can also do in Beirut.”
Having already established a ‘kill ratio’ in this war, it is suggested that Hezbollah may be aiming to establish a new ‘qualitative ratio’ in its fight with Israel. This involves Hezbollah carefully selecting qualitative targets such as Israeli barracks and command centers – rather than merely matching Israel’s ‘depth strikes’ in Lebanon – to deter the enemy and achieve its objectives.
To counter Israel’s depth approach, Hezbollah has reframed the equation: it has prioritized ‘qualitative Israeli targets’ over mere geographical distance. This strategic shift was noted in the aftermath of Israel’s attack on the southern suburb of Beirut to assassinate Saleh al-Arouri, the deputy head of Hamas’ political bureau.
In response, the Lebanese resistance targeted a significant and sensitive site near the border – the Meron multi-mission air surveillance base – dealing a substantial blow to its functionality.
Hezbollah’s strategic maneuvers have placed Tel Aviv in a difficult predicament. The resistance’s evolving tactics disrupt the occupation army’s operations, causing confusion and threatening to escalate strikes on quality targets in the event that the war expands.
Strikes targeting specific installations – such as the volley of over 100 rockets against strategic sites in the Golan Heights in return for an Israeli attack on Baalbeck earlier this month – carry profound security implications for Israel.
Hezbollah’s deliberate and rapid retaliation underscores its readiness to confront any incursions into sensitive territories, rewrite the rules of engagement at will, and maintain the delicate balance of power along the border.
Why Hezbollah opened Lebanon’s southern front
When Hezbollah opened a Lebanese front on 8 October last year, its strategic objectives were twofold: to bolster the resistance in Gaza and to sow confusion within the Israeli military on the northern front. This required significant troop movements, the deployment of air defense systems, and heightened air force readiness, as Israel anticipated potential escalation, especially in the initial stages of the conflict.
In addition to this primary objective, Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah highlighted another critical point: Israel’s behavior within Lebanon. There was a concern that Tel Aviv might initiate or manipulate the front to align with its own objectives, possibly with a ‘deterrent’ intent.
The overarching objectives of Hezbollah’s strategy included supporting the resistance in Palestine, synchronizing operations with the dynamics of the conflict there, enhancing deterrence against Israeli aggression, and preventing wide-scale attacks. Additionally, Hezbollah aimed to send clear messages through battlefield actions, showcasing the resistance’s intelligence capabilities and versatility in targeting.
The strategy aims to restrain the conflict from expanding to serve Israel’s strategic interests, all while inflicting constant attrition on the enemy forces stationed in the north.
Ultimately, Hezbollah’s approach has resulted in significant losses and costs for the enemy, albeit less than what would be incurred in a full-blown confrontation. Consequently, the Israeli army finds itself ensnared in a front adeptly managed by Hezbollah, where calculations are based on actual losses rather than publicized figures or internal propaganda.
Its remarkable ‘kill ratio’ aside, Hezbollah has raised the stakes for Tel Aviv, which now has to calculate its losses every time it strikes deeper into Lebanese lands. Israel’s misguided depth strategy has now created a Hezbollah ‘quality ratio.’
Hezbollah media Relations Department issued late Wednesday a statement to categorically deny the false and biased news circulated by certain media outlets about an attempt by the Resistance fighters to launch missiles at the Zionist enemy from Rmeish, or the vicinity of its school, or the village’s outskirts in general.
The statement affirmed that the circulated rumors are false, fabricated and completely baseless, stressing that the parties involved in circulating and adopting such false rumors are slanderous, incite strife among the Lebanese people, and serve the enemy schemes whether they know or not.
Hezbollah warned all the Lebanese against the malicious endeavors and hateful goals of such parties.
The Islamic Resistancehas engaged in a border battle against the Israeli enemy since October 7, 2023, to defend the Lebanese border and support Gaza against the barbaric aggression.
Hezbollah has sacrificed around 250 martyrs because it has resorted to military tactics that keep the civilians away from the battle and endanger the fighters.
Some anti-resistance parties in Lebanon fabricate stories aimed at distorting the image of the Resistance.
Ever since 8 October, when Hezbollah rallied militarily to support the Palestinian resistance in Gaza in their war against Israel, Lebanese Christian political leaders have taken a firm stance opposing the entanglement of the Shia powerhouse – or any other Lebanese faction – in the region’s myriad conflicts.
Notable figures among these are former President Michel Aoun and Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) leader Gebran Bassil – both long-term Christian allies of Hezbollah since 2006, who now vocally oppose efforts to unite forces in support of Palestine. Even influential figures like the head of Lebanon’s Maronite Church, Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, echo this sentiment.
Samir Geagea, leader of the right-wing, pro-US Lebanese Forces, never one to mince words, accused Hezbollah of seeking to “obtain the presidency and Lebanon’s government in return for withdrawing weapons from the border” with Israel. Anyone thinking of a bargain involving the presidency and the border situation, Geagea said, would be “dreaming.”
According to Geagea – who served 11 years in prison for the 1994 bombing of a church and the assassination of top Lebanese political officials and their families – Hezbollah “does not want to engage in a war, but only wants to garner internal gains, while Iran wants to garner additional gains at the regional level.”
The former warlord stressed that “putting Lebanon in the barrel of the cannon will not benefit the Palestinian cause but will bring us total destruction.”
Lebanon’s political deadlock
For his part, Samy Gemayel, Head of the Kataeb Party, claims:
Hezbollah deceives both Lebanese and Palestinians when it pretends to open a support front in the Gaza war. However, this front practically has no impact on the situation in Gaza … Any barter that protects Israel’s security at the expense of handing over Beirut to Hezbollah … Anyone who thinks that such a settlement will pass is mistaken, as we will be in the face of any new settlement that threatens our future in Lebanon.
It should be noted that the Kataeb and Lebanese Forces parties (the latter existed initially as the military wing of the former) fired the first bullet in Lebanon’s 15-year civil war at Palestinian civilians and are responsible for the notorious Sabra and Shatila refugee camp massacre, in which thousands of Palestinians were gunned down over three days, all while Israeli choppers lit the night skies overhead.
Today, Lebanese political analyst Wael Najm says the country’s political parties are in limbo, “awaiting the outcome of the battle in Gaza and the confrontations in southern Lebanon. Thus, the movement in the presidential file has been frozen.”
These accusations from Lebanon’s Christian leaders come despite Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah stressing that his party would not seek to achieve political gains in Lebanon based on the results of the Gaza war.
As FPM member Rindala Jabbour tells The Cradle:
Hezbollah does not exert its military power in Lebanese internal politics. If it wanted to use its surplus power, it would have done so after the 2006 war, and there have been many opportunities to do so. Hezbollah does not impose its power. Otherwise, there would be many different equations. It would have imposed many things it wanted.
“I don’t think we are any longer in the era of political Shiism, Maronism, or even Sunnism. I think we [Lebanon] have passed those stages,” she adds.
Maronites for the Moqawama
Highlighting the interconnectedness of regional dynamics, Jabbour says, “There is an awareness that what is happening in Palestine, Syria, and the encirclement countries will inevitably affect Lebanon,” and that many Christians will ultimately support the fight against Israeli aggression.
Many Christians support the resistance because they know it has a fundamental role in protecting Lebanon and has given the country a deterrent force. This group knows that there are consequences and repercussions of the Palestinian war on Lebanon, especially if the Palestinian resistance is defeated and Israel achieves its goals.
Jabbour clarifies her party’s position: “By separating the squares, we mean not to put Lebanon in a crisis in which it cannot bear the repercussions. The Free Patriotic Movement is indeed with the separation of squares, but it appreciates the wisdom of the resistance in dealing with the different issues.”
There is a point of view that supports the resistance, but it expresses its fear of provoking an Israeli war and giving an excuse for Israel to invade Lebanon. Especially since Lebanon currently can’t handle any war.
Jabbour laments the shortcomings of some Christians who distance themselves from the resistance, expressing concerns that their words and actions may inadvertently align with Israel’s interests, as was the case with the Phalangists during the Lebanese Civil War.
Writer and researcher Qasem Qassir explains to The Cradle that many critics of Hezbollah’s battle on the southern border are so caught up in Lebanon’s endless, internal political squabbles that they can’t see the forest for the trees:
Hezbollah confirms, through all of its officials, that participation in the war has to do with confronting the Israeli enemy and supporting the Palestinian people and has nothing to do with any internal issue, regardless of the results of the war and its connotations. Hezbollah further confirms that with the implementation of the Taif Agreement and with the internal dialogue on all files, including the presidential file, no amendment will be put forward to the system and that it respects the Lebanese formula.
The Taif Agreement, for those uninitiated in Lebanon’s sect-based political system, is the 1989 deal struck between feuding Lebanese warlords to end the country’s 1975–1990 Civil War, in which all sides endorsed a plan to divide parliamentary seats equally between Muslims and Christians.
Concerning the negative repercussions that could impact Lebanese Christians in the widening regional war, Qassir believes that “First and foremost, the Israeli danger is a danger to all of Lebanon, not only to Palestine or Gaza, and there is an Israeli objective to displace Palestinians to Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon. Therefore, it is important to support the resistance and face Israel,”regardless of one’s views on the region’s Iran-led Axis of Resistance.
Gaza affects Lebanon
A recent survey conducted by the Jewish People’s Policy Institute revealed that 63 percent of Israelis believe that their military should attack Hezbollah with full force at the first available opportunity or after the war in Gaza subsides. These results are consistent with the official Israeli rhetoric calling for the invasion of Lebanon – irrespective of whether a lasting ceasefire is struck with Gaza.
Speaking to The Cradle, Palestinian political analyst Iyad al-Qara laments the shortsightedness of Lebanon’s naysayers: “The positions of some Christian parties, unfortunately, were negative, both regarding the resistance operations in southern Lebanon and those they had during the Gaza war. This is surprising.”
“If Gaza falls, this could be a prelude to the occupation of Lebanon,” he warns. Qara further points out:
The steadfastness of Gaza helps protect Lebanon from Israel’s attacks. Therefore, Christians should not look at the current conflict from the perspective of disagreements and wars with some Palestinians, especially since the circumstances are different from before. They must reconsider their position because the victory of Gaza is a victory for both Lebanon and Palestine. Thus, their position should be more positive.
“The Israeli army’s attempts to displace people from Gaza will continue, whether optional or mandatory,” Qara concludes.
In this context, extremist Israeli activist Daniella Weiss, the “godmother” of the Zionist settler movement, which for the first time in Israel’s history has powerful cabinet members representing its interests at every level, recently told CNN: “No Arab, I’m speaking about more than two million Arabs. They will not stay there. We Jews will be in Gaza … 500 families have already signed up to resettle in Gaza.”
Be careful what you wish for
According to UNRWA, there are 1.2 million Palestinians in the Rafah area, south of Gaza, who are currently surviving in catastrophic humanitarian conditions.
A report by Lebanese academic and researcher Abbas Assi, published on the Carnegie Endowment For International Peace website, states, “The Christian community in Lebanon has several concerns about the ongoing war. They fear that if Israel defeats Hamas, it may be tempted to launch a full-scale war on Hezbollah in Lebanon, further impacting the already fragile Lebanese economy.”
Moreover, they worry that Israel’s success in deporting Palestinians from Gaza could impede the return of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon to their homeland, and their naturalization in Lebanon would become inevitable. As a result, the power of the Christian minority, which is already grappling with a demographic decline, would be further weakened.
Lebanese journalist Ghassan Saoud says the Lebanese Church is now working to mitigate negative fallout by crafting a national document in cooperation with several Christian political parties. Among the paper’s goals is “to be frank with others about concerns (among Christians in particular) in a calm, rational, and sober language, far from street hooliganism.”
In the final analysis, the war on Gaza should not be allowed to negatively impact Lebanon’s political fabric – especially during a period of insecurity.
Rather than banking on the downfall of Palestinian resistance or envisioning a post-Hezbollah Lebanon, Lebanon’s Christian politicos should consider the broader, more immediate ramifications of the growing regional conflict. The loss of Gaza could fundamentally alter their position in West Asia, with the refugee crisis exacerbating their demographic minority status in Lebanon.
This could potentially necessitate amendments to the Taif Agreement to align with Lebanon’s evolving demographic and political reality. Consequently, Christian political leaders – particularly those aligned with anti-Hezbollah foreign states – are advised to weigh these issues carefully before lashing out at Lebanon’s resistance, the country’s only safeguard against Israel.
The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of The Cradle.
In support of the Palestinian people and resistance in Gaza and in light of the Israeli aggression on the various South Lebanon villages, the Islamic Resistance continued striking the Zionist occupation sites near Lebanon border.
Hezbollah military media issued consecutive statements to illustrate the attacks and their outcomes.
The first statement mentioned that the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. the “Ramim” Hunin Barracks with artillery shells.
The second statement emphasized that the Islamic Resistance attacked on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at 12:20 p.m. Iron Dome platforms at the air defense site in Kfar Blum settlement with two combat drones, adding that the targets were accurately hit.
According to the third statement, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted at 13:10 on on Saturday, March 23, 2024, the spy devices at Al-Radar site in the occupied Lebanese Shebaa Farms with appropriate weapons, hitting it directly.
The fourth statement maintained that the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted at 13:15 on Saturday, March 23, 2024, Bayyad Blida site with appropriate weapons, hitting it directly.
The fifth statement mentioned that the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted at 16:50 on Saturday, March 23, 2024, Ruwaisat Al-Alam site in the occupied Lebanese Kfarshouba Hills with artillery shells, hitting it directly.
Meanwhile, the Zionist enemy continued its aggression on Lebanon’s border villages, launching air raids on Al-Khiyam and Kfarkila.
In support of the steadfast Palestinian people in Gaza and in bolstering their brave and honorable resistance, the Islamic Resistance executed several operations against the positions and deployments of the “Israeli” enemy army along the Lebanese-Palestinian borders on Friday, March 22, 2024, as follows:
– Eastern Sector:
1. At 13:40, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted Al-Mutela site with an assault drone, hitting a tank inside it directly.
2. At 16:45, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted Ruwaisat Al-Alam site in the occupied Lebanese hills of Kfar Shuba with appropriate weapons, resulting in direct hits.
– Western Sector: 1. At 14:35, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a deployment of “Israeli” enemy soldiers in the vicinity of Zar’it barracks with artillery shells, causing direct hits.
2. At 16:10, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a deployment of “Israeli” enemy soldiers in the vicinity of Jal Al-Allam site with artillery shells, resulting in direct hits.
3. At 21:30, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a building housing “Israeli” enemy soldiers in Doviv settlement with appropriate weapons, in response to Zionist aggressions on the resilient southern villages and civilian homes.
4. At 21:50, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a building housing “Israeli” enemy soldiers in Zar’it settlement with appropriate weapons, in response to Zionist aggression on the resilient southern villages and civilian homes.
In support of the Palestinian people and resistance in Gaza and in light of the Israeli aggression on the various South Lebanon villages, the Islamic Resistance continued striking the Zionist occupation sites near Lebanon border.
The second statement emphasized that the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted at 14:50 on Thursday, March 21, 2024, Al-Malkiya site with artillery shells, hitting it directly.
The third statement asserted that, in response to the enemy’s attacks on the resilient southern villages and civilian homes, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted, using appropriate weapons, a building used by the enemy soldiers in Al-Malikiya settlement at approximately 5:30 PM on Thursday, March 21, 2024, causing direct damage.
Islamic Resistance fighters targeted, using appropriate weapons, two buildings where enemy soldiers were stationed in the Avivim settlement at approximately 5:38 PM on Thursday, March 21, 2024, causing direct damage, according to the fourth statement.
The fifth statement emphasized that, in response to the enemy’s attacks on the resilient southern villages and civilian homes, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted at 7:00 PM on Thursday, March 21, 2024, a building used by the enemy soldiers in Netua settlement with the appropriate weapons, inflicting a direct hit.
According to the sixth statement, the Islamic Resistance fighters, in response to the enemy’s attacks on the resilient southern villages and civilian homes, targeted at 7:20 PM on Thursday, March 21, 2024, Shlomi settlement with missiles.
Meanwhile, the Zionist war jets raided several border towns, including Houla, Kfarkila, Adaisseh, and Teir Harfa, causing much damage.
On Wednesday, Hezbollah fighters carried out nine operations against the enemy border sites.
In support of the Palestinian people and resistance in Gaza and in light of the Israeli aggression on the various South Lebanon villages, the Islamic Resistance continued striking the Zionist occupation sites near Lebanon border.
Hezbollah military media issued consecutive statements to illustrate the attacks and their outcomes.
The first statement mentioned that the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted, at 11:15 am on Saturday, March 16, 2024, Al-Baghdadi site with rocket weapons, causing a direct hit.
The second statement emphasized that the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted Ramim Barracks with two Burkan rockets at 01:04 pm on Saturday, March 16, 2024, achieving direct hits.
The third statement asserted that the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted, at 3:30 pm on Saturday, March 16, 2024, Al-Malkiya site with mortar shells, causing a direct hit.
Islamic Resistance fighters targeted, at 3:40 pm on Saturday, March 16, 2024, Al-Samaqa site in the occupied Lebanese hills of Kfar Shuba with rocket weapons, causing a direct hit, according to the fourth statement.
Islamic Resistance fighters targeted, at 3:42 pm on Saturday, March 16, 2024, Al-Ramtha site in the occupied Lebanese hills of Kfar Shuba with rocket weapons, causing a direct hit, the fifth statement affirmed.
Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah underscored the veracity of the stance made by Hamas Movement’s command which insists on the comprehensive end of the Zionist war on Gaza, stressing that the Movement is engaging in the ceasefire negotiations on behalf of all the Palestinian factions and the Strip’s locals.
Addressing Quranic Evening session in Beirut’s Dahiyeh, Sayyed Nasrallah underlined the US hypocrisy regarding the issue of Gaza.
Sayyed Nasrallah addressed the Zionist enemy’s premier Benjamin Netanyahu, “You have failed to achieve any of Gaza war’s targets, even Rafah operation will not offer you an image of victory.”
Sayyed Nasrallah underlined the unprecedented steadfastness of Gaza people despite all the Zionist barbarism and cruelty, adding that even the Americans told the Israelis that eradicating Hamas is impossible.
Hezbollah Leader indicated that all Gaza support fronts are playing their role of exerting pressure on the Israeli enemy, affirming that the Lebanese front supports Hamas and its terms pertaining the ceasefire talks.
Sayyed Nasrallah shed light again on the Israeli concealment of losses on the northern front, adding that some remarks unveil the truth.
In this regard, his eminence quoted Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi as saying that their soldiers are fighting in Gaza and the North and suffering heavy losses.
Sayyed Nasrallah responded again to the political parties and journalists claiming that Hezbollah border battle has not helped Gaza, asserting that 100 thousand Zionist soldiers are deployed near Lebanon border to prevent the Resistance from invading occupied Palestine.
Sayyed Nasrallah highlighted that the personnel shortage suffered by the Israeli occupation army which is in need of recruiting 14500 officers and soldiers, adding that the political crisis with the Haredim prepares for the collapse of the occupation entity.
In this regard, Sayyed Nasrallah quoted the former Israeli premier Yair Lapid as saying that ‘Israel’ does not have enough soldiers to wage a war on Lebanon.
Finally, Sayyed Nasrallah maintained that a further patience will lead the axis of Resistance to achieve a major victory, underlining the Zionist military, economic, and political exhaustion in this regard.
Sayyed Nasrallah maintained that the Quranic education helps us confront challenges, adding that the Resistance martyrs’ wills are full of Quran verses, which illustrates the Holy Book’s role in their live.
UPROOTED PALESTINIANS: SALAM ALQUDS ALAYKUM 