Hezbollah Leader Declares New Phase in War With Israel

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Aug 01, 2024

Above: A television in Al-Burj Palestinian refugee camp transmits a speech by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on January 5, 2024 in Beirut, Lebanon. Image copyright: Marwan Tahtah/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Imagesstory last updated Aug 01

The Facts

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said during the funeral of top commander Fuad Shukr that the war with Israel has entered a new phase and a response to Shukr's killing is "definite," adding that the group's response would be proportionate to the Israeli strike on Shukr.
Nasrallah also stated that Israel had crossed red lines and it "must now expect rage and revenge on all the fronts supporting Gaza." He also partially blamed the US for escalating tensions in the region.

The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

Israel must be able to defend itself from terrorist attacks from Gaza or elsewhere, and the US is committed to preventing malicious actors from threatening Israel's legitimate concerns. Nonetheless, no one wants to see the situation on the Lebanese border escalate and Washington will continue working toward a diplomatic solution.

CNN

Pro-Israel narrative

If Hezbollah continues to attack Israeli civilians, it will face an even more destructive response. Day after day, Hezbollah has fired rockets into northern Israel, displacing the population and sowing terror. Israel has shown incredible restraint due to foreign pressure — but it will soon have to act more forcefully to deal with the presence of terrorists on its borders.

Jerusalem Post

Pro-Palestine narrative

Israel's aggressive posture only demonstrates that it is a rogue state that would rather light the region on fire than stop its genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. Netanyahu continues to engage in provocative acts because he has failed to achieve his political and military objectives. While Netanyahu extends the war to ensure his political survival, the US continues to support Israel with a blank check and obfuscate its role in the carnage.

Middle East Eye

Narrative D

Hezbollah and the regional resistance's primary goal has always been to end the war in Gaza, not start a far larger regional conflict. Nonetheless, Israel's aggression against Beirut and Hamas' political leadership must be responded to.