Lebanon's Hezbollah lashes out at Israel over killing resistance members

Head of Lebanon’s Hezbollah resistance movement has lashed out at Tel Aviv regime for the recent killing of a number of its members, saying the Middle East region is suffering from “a cancerous growth called Israel.”

Hezbollah Secretary General Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah made the remarks on Friday during a speech about the Israeli attack on the Syrian Golan town of Quneitra on January 18.

He described the Israeli regime as a “trauma” and a “bacterium of corruption” which has been plaguing the whole region since 1948.

He recapped crimes against humanity committed by the Israeli regime in the region, referring to the Tel Aviv’s brutalities against Palestinians and Syrians.

“Israel has in recent years resorted to the same arrogant practices it had adopted decades ago. It has carried out a bloody campaign against Gaza and violated the most basic of Palestinian rights,” Hezbollah leader added.

Nasrallah further referred to the role of Israel in Syria and the regime’s support for the Takfiri militants operating against the Syrian government, saying, “In Syria, Israel has been backing the extremist groups and shelling government’s positions under various excuses. In Lebanon, it does not recognize resolution 1701 and has committed thousands of violations against its sovereignty.”

The resolution, which brokered a ceasefire in the war of aggression Israel launched on Lebanon in 2006, calls on Tel Aviv to respect Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He emphasized that “Israel believes that it can threaten all armies and governments in the region whenever it pleases and without being deterred.”

Nasrallah also referred to the Arab countries’ inaction toward the crimes committed by the Tel Aviv regime, saying, “Israel is taking advantage of the divisions in the region and the complete absence of the stances by the Arab countries, especially the so-called Arab League.”

“There is no such thing as an Arab League or an independent Arab stance when it comes to Israel. Arab positions and arms are available when it comes to Yemen, Iraq, and Syria,” he said.

Referring to the killing of the members of the resistance movement in Quneitra, on the Syrian section of Golan Heights, Nasrallah said, “Our brothers in Quneitra were killed in a clear assassination, in a decision taken by Israel.”

“Israel has not yet claimed responsibility for the airstrike believing that Hezbollah is weak and would disregard the attack,” he added.

Nasrallah also took Israel to task for supporting Takfiri militants in Syria, including the al-Qaeda linked al-Nusra Front, saying, “Thousands of members of al-Nusra Front are present along the border with Israel in the occupied Golan Heights.”

The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “is not at all concerned about the presence of al-Nusra on Israel's border,” the Hezbollah leader said, adding, “Israel, however, felt threatened by six Hezbollah members and an Iranian general passing through Quneitra.”

Six Hezbollah members as well as Brigadier General Mohammad Ali Allahdadi, an Iranian commander, lost their lives in an Israeli aerial assault on the Syrian section of Golan Heights on January 18. Hezbollah said 25-year-old Jihad Mughniyeh, the son of slain Hezbollah top commander, Imad Mughniyeh, was among those killed in the attack.

They were reportedly on a field reconnaissance mission in Quneitra when an Israeli military helicopter targeted their vehicle. Following the attack, Israel claimed that it was unaware of the presence of an Iranian commander in the area where the attack happened. Iranian officials, however, have rejected the claim, describing it as a routine tactic used by Israelis to hide their evil intentions.

The Hezbollah leader went on to note that Israel will not be allowed to escape the assault against the Lebanese resistance movement unscathed.

“We took no hesitation in making the decision that Israel should be punished for its crime in Quneitra,” Nasrallah said, adding, “We prepared ourselves for the worst case scenario when we took that decision.”

He also noted that Tel Aviv has been in a state of distress and intimidation for fear of reprisal by Hezbollah, saying, “Israel immediately anticipated Hezbollah’s retaliation to the Quneitra assassination and therefore took all precautions.”

Referring to an attack, which Hezbollah claimed it has carried out against Israel in the occupied Shebaa farms in south Lebanon, Nasrallah pointed out that the resistance movement is brave enough to claim responsibility for its attacks against Tel Aviv, implying that the Israeli regime lacks such a mentality and essence.

“The resistance carried out its Shebaa operation in broad daylight in spite of the fact that Israel was at its highest level of preparation,” he said, adding, “Israel did not claim responsibility for the Quneitra attack, but Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the Shebaa operation soon after it took place.”

The Hezbollah leader also warned Israel against any act of aggression against Hezbollah, saying, “Israel must understand that the resistance cannot be deterred.”

He also declared that the Lebanese resistance movement is not afraid of confronting Israel, saying Hezbollah is not fearful of standing against Israel.

“If Israel is thinking that we fear war, then I tell it that we do not fear war and we will not hesitate to take it if it is imposed on us,” Nasrallah said.

He, however, emphasized that Hezbollah does not “want a war, but we do not fear it... We have the right to confront the enemy at any time, place, or manner.”

The Hezbollah leader finally warned Israel that "from now on, if any member of Hezbollah is assassinated, we will blame it on Israel and reserve the right to respond to it whenever and however we choose."

IA/SS

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