Beirut, Lebanon – In a significant development, the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement has announced its full readiness to support its Palestinian ally, Hamas, in the ongoing conflict with Israel. This declaration comes as tensions continue to escalate in the region, with both sides engaging in heavy fire exchanges for the seventh consecutive day.
The recent escalation began when hundreds of Hamas militants breached the border from Gaza into Israel, resulting in the tragic loss of more than 1,300 lives, predominantly civilians. In response, Israel has initiated a series of airstrikes on Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip, leading to the tragic loss of over 1,900 lives, including more than 600 children, as reported by the Palestinian health ministry.
Naim Qassem, the Deputy Chief of Hezbollah, made these statements during a pro-Palestinian rally in Beirut’s southern suburbs. “We, as Hezbollah, are actively contributing to this confrontation and will continue to do so in line with our strategic vision and plan,” Qassem proclaimed. “We are fully prepared, and when the time for action arrives, we will not hesitate to act.”
Hezbollah’s stance remains firm, despite calls from major countries, Arab nations, and United Nations envoys, urging them to refrain from involvement in the conflict. Qassem emphasized that such outreach would not deter Hezbollah from fulfilling what it sees as its responsibilities.
Recent days have witnessed clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, as well as other Palestinian factions in Lebanon. Tragically, a Reuters journalist lost their life, and several others from AFP, Reuters, and Al Jazeera were wounded during cross-border shelling in southern Lebanon.
Early reports on Saturday indicate that the Israeli Air Force conducted a strike on a Hezbollah target in southern Lebanon in response to unidentified aerial objects entering Israeli airspace and firing upon an Israeli drone.
Amidst this intensifying conflict, Hezbollah supporters in Beirut’s southern suburbs gathered for a solidarity rally with Gaza, bearing Palestinian flags and banners with slogans like “May God protect you.” The crowd chanted slogans, urging Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, to “strike Tel Aviv.”
Najwa Ali, a Palestinian refugee born in Beirut, passionately expressed her sentiments, saying, “I have never seen Palestine, but when I return one day, it will be with my head held high, free from Israeli control.”
This ongoing conflict has seen several incidents, with Hezbollah reporting casualties due to Israeli strikes on Monday. On Tuesday, Israel claimed to have targeted Hezbollah observation posts, while Hamas’s armed wing asserted responsibility for rocket attacks. On Wednesday, Hezbollah retaliated by targeting an Israeli position near the Lebanese village of Dhayra, resulting in Israeli casualties.
The situation remains fluid, and the international community closely watches as the conflict between Hamas, Hezbollah, and Israel continues to evolve.
