Hezbollah’s Leader Hassan Nasrallah Threatens Israel and Cyprus

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is giving a strong warning to Israel, threatening the country and one of its neighbors that Hezbollah is ready to fight. 

Speaking at a ceremony honoring senior Hezbollah commander Taleb Abdullah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon last week along with three other operatives, Nasrallah addressed the growing conflict with Israel. He stated that the Shiite group does not seek “total war” but is acting in support of Hamas.

He said Hezbollah would carry out comprehensive attacks on Israel from the ground, air, and sea. Nasrallah says that in such a conflict, no location in Israel would be spared from Hezbollah’s weapons. He also threatened Cyprus, declaring that if Cyprus allows the IDF to use its logistical infrastructure for attacks on Lebanon, Hezbollah would consider Cyprus part of the conflict and target the small island country accordingly.

Nasrallah accused Cyprus of allowing Israel to use its airports and bases for military exercises. He warned that Hezbollah could consider Cyprus “a part of the war” and target it if it allows the IDF to use its logistical infrastructure to attack Lebanon.

“Opening Cypriot airports and bases to the Israeli enemy to target Lebanon would mean that the Cypriot government is part of the war, and the resistance will deal with it as part of the war.

Cyprus is not known to provide land or base facilities to the Israeli military, though it has occasionally allowed Israel to use its airspace for air drills during calm. 

There are two British bases in Cyprus, which was a colony until 1960. These bases have been used for operations in Syria and, more recently, Yemen. Apparently, the Cypriot government has no involvement or agency regarding this According to Hebrew media reports, British Royal Air Force fighter jets and refueling aircraft took off from these bases to help thwart a massive drone and missile attack launched by Iran against Israel in mid-April, 2024.

Hezbollah has been attacking northern Israel since October 8th, resulting in Israeli counterattacks and an escalating conflict that Israel has increasingly warned could lead to open war.

If Israel launches a large-scale offensive against Hezbollah, it must be prepared for attacks by land, air, and sea, Nasrallah said. Nasrallah vows that the “situation in the Mediterranean will change completely.”

He warned that “no place” in Israel would be spared from the group’s weapons in the event of a full-blown war, asserting that Hezbollah will fight with “no rules” and “no ceilings.” He added, “The enemy knows well that we have prepared ourselves for the worst… and that no place… will be spared from our rockets.”

Nasrallah also ominously suggested he could be responsible for attacking its offshore gas rigs that are out at sea off the coast. He said Israel “knows that what also awaits it in the Mediterranean is very big.” 

Wednesday Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant and IDF Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi held an operational situation assessment at the IDF’s Northern Command together with the Commander of the Israeli Air Force.

The briefing was attended by senior IDF officials. Minister Gallant emphasized the importance of addressing the threat posed by drone attacks, as well as ongoing efforts to thwart senior Hezbollah officials. The Minister told the officials that full readiness must be maintained for all scenarios.

Minister Gallant said “The IDF has gained a lot of experience as a result of the war – both in the south and in the north. This is true for all the different parts of the IDF.”

 He also noted “We are achieving readiness on land and in the air, strengthening our intelligence systems and preparing for every scenario. We must all remember that Hezbollah started a war against us on October 8th, a day after Hamas [attacked Israel], and since then, it has not stopped [attacking Israel]. We have an obligation to change the situation in the north, and to ensure the safe return of our citizens to their homes, and we will find a way to achieve this.”