BEIRUT, November 2( Reuters)- Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah will make his first public commentary on Friday since the war between the Palestinian group Hamas and Israel. This speech will be closely examined for hints about how Hezbollah’s role in the conflict may evolve.
A formidable military force supported by Iran, Hezbollah has been in conflict with Israeli forces along the border, with 55 of its fighters killed, marking the deadliest escalation since the 2006 war with Israel.
On the eve of this speech, Hezbollah conducted what appeared to be its largest attack in over three weeks of fighting, launching 19 simultaneous strikes on Israeli army positions and deploying explosive drones for the first time. Israel responded with airstrikes, tanks, and artillery fire as the border conflict intensified.
However, the clashes so far have mainly occurred on the border, and Hezbollah has only utilised a fraction of the firepower that Nasrallah has been threatening Israel with for years.
Many people in Lebanon are anxiously awaiting this speech scheduled for 3 p.m. (1300 GMT). They have been anxious for weeks due to the fear of a catastrophic conflict. Some are refraining from making plans beyond Friday, believing that Nasrallah’s remarks will indicate the likelihood of escalation.
This speech is also of great anticipation on a broader scale. Nasrallah is a commanding voice in a indigenous military alliance established by Iran to fight the United States and Israel. This alliance, known as the “Axis of Resistance,” includes Shiite Muslim Iraqi militias that have been engaging with U.S. forces in Syria and Iraq. It also involves Yemen’s Houthis, who have entered the conflict by launching drones at Israel.
With his black turban symbolising his lineage as a descendant of the Prophet Mohammad and Shiite clerical robes, Nasrallah is one of the most prominent figures in the Arab world. Even critics recognise him as a skilled orator, and his speeches have long been closely followed by both friends and foes. He is considered a terrorist by adversaries, including the United States.
His fiery speeches during the 2006 war elevated his profile, including one where he announced that Hezbollah had struck an Israeli naval vessel with an anti-ship missile, urging viewers to ‘look to the sea.’
While Nasrallah has remained out of the public eye since October 7, other Hezbollah officials have indicated the group’s readiness for combat. However, they have not set any clear boundaries in the conflict with Israel. When asked on October 22 why he had not spoken, Hezbollah politician Hassan Fadlallah explained that Nasrallah had been closely monitoring the situation in Gaza ‘moment by moment and hour by hour’ and overseeing the battle in Lebanon. Not speaking in public was’ part of his operation of the battle,’ he said .
The speech will be broadcast to coincide with rallies organised by Hezbollah to honour the fallen fighters.
Mutual threats of destruction have prevented Israel and Hezbollah from waging a war across the Lebanese-Israeli border since 2006. Meanwhile, Syria has served as an arena for their conflict.
Sources familiar with Hezbollah’s thinking suggest that the group’s attacks have been measured so far to avoid a major escalation while keeping Israeli forces occupied at the border.
Lebanon cannot afford another war with Israel, as many Lebanese are still grappling with the aftermath of a catastrophic financial collapse four years ago.
Israel has stated that it has no interest in a conflict on its northern frontier with Lebanon. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Hezbollah against opening a second war front with Israel, cautioning that doing so would trigger Israeli counter-strikes of ‘unimaginable’ magnitude, bringing devastation to Lebanon.