Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah says the pager and walkie-talkie attacks against its members in Lebanon and Syria this week crossed “all red lines” and the group will retaliate and is undeterred in its fight against Israel in support of Palestinians in Gaza.In his first televised speech since the unprecedented attacks, which took place over two days and killed at least 37 people, Nasrallah on Thursday called them a “big blow in terms of security and humanity” but said they have failed to bring the group to its knees.
The blasts, which the Iran-backed group blames on Israel, wounded more than 2,900 people, of whom 287 are in a critical condition, and have heightened fears that 11 months of near-daily exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israel will escalate into all-out war.
In keeping with many previous attacks, Israel has yet to admit responsibility or comment on the blasts.
In recent weeks, Israeli leaders have stepped up warnings of a potential larger military operation against Hezbollah, saying they are determined to stop the group’s fire to allow tens of thousands of Israelis to return to homes near the border with Lebanon.
As Israeli jets carried out sonic booms over Lebanon during his speech, Nasrallah called Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s simultaneous explosions a “terrorist act” and a “declaration of war” against the people of Lebanon and the country’s sovereignty.
He conceded the attacks were “unpre …
