BEIRUT: Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah warned on Wednesday that “no place” in Israel would be spared in the event of a full-scale war. In a televised address, Nasrallah also threatened Cyprus if it allowed its airports and bases to be used by Israel.
“The enemy knows well that we have prepared ourselves for the worst… and that no place… will be spared our rockets,” Nasrallah said. He emphasized that Israel should anticipate attacks “on land, by sea, and by air” from Hezbollah forces.
Nasrallah highlighted that the Israeli military fears the possibility of Hezbollah forces penetrating the Galilee region in northern Israel, suggesting that such an operation could occur “in the context of a war that could be imposed on Lebanon.”
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has intensified, with near-daily cross-border exchanges of fire since the October 7. The skirmishes have escalated recently, prompting the Israeli military to announce on Tuesday that “operational plans for an offensive in Lebanon were approved and validated.”
Israel Katz, Israel’s Foreign Minister, had earlier warned that Hezbollah would face destruction in a “total war.” In response, Nasrallah cautioned Cyprus against supporting Israel. “Opening Cypriot airports and bases to the Israeli enemy to target Lebanon would mean that the Cypriot government is part of the war, and the resistance will deal with it as part of the war,” he said.
Cyprus, which maintains good relations with both Israel and Lebanon, is strategically located close to both nations. The island also hosts two British sovereign base areas, remnants of its colonial past.
Nasrallah revealed that Hezbollah has significantly bolstered its arsenal and personnel since the conflict began in October. “We have obtained new weapons,” he stated, though he did not provide specifics. He also mentioned that Hezbollah has only utilized a portion of its weaponry so far, keeping other capabilities in reserve for future use.
“Years ago we talked about 100,000 fighters… today, we have greatly exceeded that number,” Nasrallah boasted, signaling a substantial increase in Hezbollah’s military capacity.
The ongoing clashes between Israel and Lebanon have resulted in significant casualties. According to an AFP tally, at least 478 people have been killed in Lebanon. Israeli authorities report that 15 soldiers and 11 civilians have died in northern Israel due to the conflict.
