AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah affirmed that should a battle with the Israeli enemy escalate into a war with the entire Axis of Resistance, ‘Israel’ will cease to exist and will be returned to the Stone Age.
In a speech delivered on Monday evening, marking the seventeenth anniversary of the victory in the July 2006 war, Sayyed Nasrallah warned that if war erupts between the Israeli enemy and Lebanon, “there will be no such thing as Israel.” His eminence assured that Israel’s military has gradually “weakened” since the defeat it suffered in 2006.
“I say to the enemy: According to all evidence, you will be returned to the Stone Age if you go to war,” Sayyed Nasrallah said. “We do not deny that ‘Israel’ can return Lebanon to the Stone Age due to its air force, but also ‘Israel’ will be returned to the Stone Age.
In addition to threatening the Israeli enemy, Hezbollah’s leader tackled several local and regional issues during his speech.
Sayyed Nasrallah reaffirmed that the swift and resolute return of the populace following the triumph in the July 2006 conflict unmistakably underscored the military victory. He emphasized that the sight of car convoys streaming through all thoroughfares “vividly manifested people’s unwavering resolve in their stance and their unyielding attachment to the land, coupled with an unequivocal commitment to the path of resistance, irrespective of the enormity of the sacrifices endured.”
Sayyed Nasrallah articulated his standpoint. He noted the alignment of this year’s victory anniversary with the month of Muharram, a month that bears historical significance due to the pivotal Battle of Karbala, witnessed on its tenth day.
Turning his attention to international affairs, Sayyed Nasrallah expounded on the need to extend condolences to the victims of recent attacks in Pakistan, the Syrian desert, and the Iranian city of Shiraz. He observed a discernible trajectory suggesting a potential resurgence of the terrorist organization “ISIL” across various theaters, seemingly driven by an American decision.
“It seems that there is an American decision to unleash ISIL again in many arenas,” he said.
Sayyed Nasrallah contended that the subsequent victories would not have materialized had it not been for the strategic foundation laid in the aftermath of the July 2006 war. He classified this victory as a pivotal moment in history, shaping a trajectory for the future.
“Over the course of 33 days, we witnessed how Allah defends believers and fulfills the divine promise of victory,” Sayyed Nasrallah said, extending his thanks to all those who contributed to the making of this epic and legend throughout the 33 days.
“Gratitude must be extended,” according to Sayyed Nasrallah, “to a multiplicity of parties for their instrumental contributions. This encompasses gratitude directed towards the martyrs; the populace; the resistance environment; the valiant fighters; the military and security institutions; the injured warriors; the official and popular support rendered to Iran and Syria; and the solidarity extended by the broader Islamic world.” The blend of these elements forged the epic and legendary narrative that unfolded over the span of 33 days, he said.
Reflecting upon the war, Sayyed Nasrallah marveled at the divine providence witnessed over those 33 days, highlighting how the divine promise of victory was fulfilled in defense of the faithful. He underscored the resolute demeanor of masses of people, a scene etched in courage and unwavering trust in the path of resistance, as the defining motif on August 14.
The territorial delineation of maritime boundaries and the commencement of exploration, Sayyed Nasrallah noted, hinged on the bedrock laid by the outcomes of the 2006 war. “The July 2006 victory is a historic victory for the future, too. The demarcation of the maritime borders and the start of oil exploration would not have been possible without building on the results of the 2006 July victory,” His eminence pointed out.
Regarding domestic issues, Sayyed Nasrallah highlighted the pressing need for a sovereign fund in Lebanon, ensuring that the nation’s oil wealth becomes an asset for all Lebanese citizens, benefitting generations to come.
He appealed to lawmakers to approach this matter with a sense of national and sovereign responsibility, citing the impending parliamentary session’s agenda that includes the proposed Sovereign Fund Law, the result of months of deliberation within pertinent parliamentary committees.
“We hope that MPs will approach the issue of the sovereign fund, a proposal set on the agenda of the parliamentary session on Thursday, with a national and sovereign approach. The Sovereign Fund is an urgent need for Lebanon, so that the oil wealth will be secured to all the Lebanese and the future generation, as well.”
The enemy, Hezbollah’s leader affirmed, refrains from infringing on Lebanon’s rights due to their understanding that such attempts would elicit a robust response, thereby invoking regret.
“The enemy’s reluctance to undermine Lebanon’s entitlement to its natural resources stems from Lebanon’s formidable strength. Preserving Lebanon’s rights and safeguarding its oil wealth hinges on retaining the entirety of its power elements, most notably the potency of the resistance movement,” his eminence said.
“The genuine guarantee to preserving Lebanon’s rights and its oil wealth is Lebanon’s preservation of all its power elements, foremost of which is the resistance,” Sayyed Nasrallah indicated, pointing that what prevents the enemy from diminishing Lebanon’s rights is that it knows well that any violation attempt will be met with a strong reaction that will make them regretful.
Recalling the Israeli home front before 2006, His eminence said it was mostly spared from all wars, but the resistance in 2006 forced it to be part of the war. “After 2006, the Israelis added a fourth element to their ‘security doctrine’, that is defense and protection. After the 2006 war, Israelis were forced to look for missile interception systems and made a great effort and spent enormously. The most important thing on the ‘home front’ is the unwillingness of settlers and occupiers of this land to endure sacrifice and bear the consequences.”
Hezbollah’s S.G. assured that since 2006, the Zionist army has started to decline and weaken, transitioning from aggression and initiation to a defensive posture. “Today, the Israeli army is in its worst condition compared to any time before. The enemy has switched from offensive mode to defensive mode.”
Affirming the ascendancy of the resistance axis, Sayyed Nasrallah remarked that “Israel” presently cloaks itself behind fortifications. He pointed to the lack of tangible ground gains, the fiasco of the attempted incursion into Gaza, and the assembly of combat units as testaments to this dynamic.
He mused over the possibility of the Israeli army’s revival in the face of extensive years of rehabilitation and maneuvers. “Such a resurgence remains elusive, as attested by statements from retired and active Israeli generals and officials acknowledging the army’s challenging predicament.”
“Since 2006, the Zionist military apparatus has steadily regressed, its vigor and potency waning. The enemy’s maneuvers to assess its home front’s readiness have yielded reports indicating inadequacy,” he went on to say.
Sayyed Nasrallah categorically stated that the Israeli present state is considerably weaker compared to the past, while the resistance and its axis have grown stronger. The battle’s evolution into an engagement involving the resistance axis, he asserted, would eliminate the viability of “Israel.”
Sayyed Nasrallah conveyed the message that the Israeli leadership must acknowledge the gravity of the arena they inhabit, warning that any hostile actions towards Lebanon would thrust them into a regressive epoch akin to the Stone Age.
Reverting to domestic affairs, Sayyed Nasrallah addressed the Kahaleh incident.
He clarified that the incident was ordinary, as trucks pass through there and accidents may occur, until one of the well-known TV channels incited people by saying that the truck was carrying arms intended for Hezbollah.
His eminence pointed that the vehicle’s overturning was due to a technical malfunction, a common occurrence on that route, where trucks routinely traverse.
Tensions ran high in Lebanon last week after an attack on Hezbollah servicemen who were securing a truck belonging to the resistance party on Kahaleh freeway that links between Bekaa and Beirut.
“Over three hours, servicemen aided the driver and summoned a crane to rectify the situation,” he indicated. The contentious portrayal of Hezbollah’s involvement in the Kahaleh incident, Sayyed Nasrallah affirmed, stemmed from incitement rather than reality. He attributed the issue to those present at the accident site, indicating that the problem lay with them rather than the Kahaleh residents.
“Some people presented the issue that Hezbollah attacked people of Kahaleh, while within 3 hours the servicemen were only dealing with the overturning of the truck accident, and nothing happened until after this TV channel instigated it,” His eminence said.
“From the beginning, we thrived to deal with the issue with high level of wisdom, our problem is with attackers and not Kahaleh residents,” he added, calling on the judiciary to take full responsibility in its investigations towards the attack. “We have informed authorities of our readiness to fully cooperate,” he said, assuring that the investigation will reveal who attacked whom.
Sayyed Nasrallah addressed the judiciary, saying: Had it not been for the media incitement carried out by this well-known malicious channel, Kahaleh attack would not have taken place.
“The army’s arrival at the scene contributed to pacification but the incitement continued. Kahaleh incident reaffirmed that the army institution is the guarantor of security, peace and stability in this country, despite the fact that some people want to take over the army.”
However, Sayyed Nasrallah acknowledged the responsible positions adopted by various segments of society, particularly within the Christian community, to foster calm. He singled out President Michel Aoun’s stance, as well as that of other political forces.
“We laud the responsible positions issued, especially from some within the Christian community, calling for calm, including that of President Michel Aoun. We appreciate some political forces for defending the resistance, and thanks to those who called for calm and prudence,” he said.
Turning to the martyrdom of Hezbollah serviceman Ahmad Qassas, who fell while defending the truck in Kahaleh, Sayyed Nasrallah said Martyr Qassas fell while defending the resistance, praising the “insightful and responsible” stance of his family.
Sayyed Nasrallah wondered why some parties are after fuming the fuel of civil war. “They are working on mobilization and incitement in more than one arena. Is it in the prime interest of Christians to go to civil war?” “In a civil war everyone loses, even the strong ones, because it drains everyone. Should it erupt in Lebanon, many countries will seek to stoke it, including ‘Israel’,” his eminence said.
“Do you think that anyone in the world would intervene to stop civil war in Lebanon? Who are you betting on if you want to make a civil war? Are you betting on Israel, which is different than the Israel of 1982?” he wondered.
They aim to convince the Lebanese public that the solution in Lebanon is partition, however, this will not happen, Sayyed Nasrallah said.
Also, on the local level, Sayyed Nasrallah said the dialogue with the Free Patriotic Movement is serious and positive, but added that it needs some time, as it needs consultations with some political forces. He regretted how some political forces do not want any dialogue between the Lebanese.
“Rather, they want entrenchment, lineups and incitements,” he emphasized.
Sayyed Nasrallah touched upon the step by the family of Mahdi Scouts member, who died in a car accident, to donate some of his organs, hailing it and calling on people to follow their step to save other people’s lives. “The family of Ali Sharafeddine embodied the culture of life and sacrifice, we are proud of them,” he said.
He ended up saying, during his July victory’s 17th anniversary speech: Today, we find ourselves on an ascending trajectory, guided by a promising and expansive horizon. With resolute steps, we stride unwaveringly toward the ultimate triumph.
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