Hezbollah leader says Israel's very existence is now at risk

By richardbrown // 2024-04-09

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Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, has warned that Israel's very existence is now at risk. "There will be a before and after this moment," he said. The Hezbollah head's recent remarks serve as a warning to Tel Aviv after it attacked the Iranian consulate in Syria. The April 1 attack killed seven individuals, including two high-ranking generals of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Nasrallah's recent remarks serve as a dire caution to the West, suggesting that the assassination of IRGC leader Mohammad Reza Zahedi could signify a pivotal moment in the ongoing conflict. It also mirrored a similar threat from the IRGC, which vowed retribution against the "Zionist regime" for the attack. (Related: Hezbollah chief to Israel: ‘You have lost the war.’) Simultaneously, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for launching rockets toward IDF positions along the Lebanese border, citing solidarity with the Palestinian people in Gaza and their resistance against Israel. The group said on an affiliated Telegram channel: "In support of our steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and in support of their valiant and honorable resistance, the Mujahideen of the Islamic Resistance targeted at the afternoon of Friday a deployment of Israeli enemy soldiers... [with] artillery shells, hitting it directly." The airstrike not only targeted the Iranian diplomatic compound but also heightened tensions in the longstanding conflict between the two adversaries. With Tel Aviv anticipating potential retaliation from Tehran, the region finds itself on edge, especially against the backdrop of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. As the situation unfolds, the possibility of direct retaliation from Iran or through its proxies remains uncertain. Tehran backs Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthi rebels (formally the Ansar Allahmovement) in Yemen and Hamas (formally the Islamic Resistance Movement) in the Gaza Strip.

Both Israel and the U.S. preparing for Iran's retaliation

According to American officials, both Tel Aviv and Washington are convinced that Iran is gearing up to retaliate following the Israeli strike on an Iranian consulate in Syria. Intelligence gathered by the U.S. indicates that Tehran is planning a retaliatory strike, possibly employing a combination of Shahed loitering drones and cruise missiles. While the exact timing and target remain uncertain, officials suggest that an Israeli diplomatic facility may be a likely target. The anticipated attack is expected to occur sometime between now and the end of Ramadan next week. One key question revolves around the launch location of the drones and missiles – whether they will be deployed from Iraq or Syria, potentially allowing Tehran to maintain plausible deniability, or directly from Iranian territory. A public funeral was held in Tehran for the seven IRGC members – including the two generals – killed in the suspected Israeli strike in Damascus, as reported by CBS News' Seyed Bathaei. To deter Iranian retaliation against U.S.-linked facilities, officials from the Biden administration have emphasized that the U.S. had no prior knowledge of the strike. John Kirby, spokesman for the the National Security Council, highlighted President Joe Biden's discussion with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding Iranian threats to Israel's security. Kirby reiterated U.S. support for Israel's self-defense against Iran's public threats. Earlier, Iranian presidential adviser Mohammad Jamshidi posted a message urging American leaders to avoid being drawn into Netanyahu's trap, suggesting that the U.S. should stay out to avoid harm. He claimed that the U.S. subsequently requested Iran not to target American facilities. Confirming this communication, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State said that the U.S. had sent a written warning to Iran, cautioning against using the Israeli strike as a pretext to attack U.S. personnel and facilities. This exchange of messages occurred through the Swiss government, serving as an intermediary due to the absence of direct diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Iran. Head over to IsraelCollapse.com for similar stories. Watch this clip of Hezbollah forces striking down an advanced Israeli drone. This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.

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Both Israel and the U.S. preparing for Iran's retaliation

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