Nasrallah Says Response to Israel Not Limited to Shebaa Farms, Denies Presence of Missile Factories

W460

Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said Saturday his movement's response to a recent Israeli drone attack on the group's southern Beirut subrubs stronghold had been "decided."

"The need for a response is decided," he said during a televised speech marking the beginning of Ashoura commemorations, adding it was about "establishing the rules of engagement and... the logic of protection for the country."

Israel "must pay a price," he said.

Sunday's attack in Lebanon came just hours after Israel launched strikes in neighboring Syria to prevent what it said was an impending Iranian drone attack on Israeli territory.

Hizbullah said two of its fighters were killed in those strikes and Nasrallah vowed retaliation.

In his Saturday speech, Nasrallah vowed to retaliate "at all costs" and target Israeli drones, which often operate in Lebanese airspace.

"The response will be open... from Lebanon," he said, "in the Shebaa Farms or anywhere on the border."

The timing and scale of Hezbollah's response, he added, was in the hands of field commanders.

In 2015 and 2016, Hizbullah targeted Israeli military vehicles in the disputed Shebaa Farms area along the Lebanon-Israel ceasefire line in revenge for Israeli strikes on its fighters in Syria. 

In a rare incident on Wednesday, the Lebanese Army opened fire on Israeli drones that had violated Lebanon's southern airspace, forcing the aircraft to return back across the border.

Netanyahu had on Tuesday warned Nasrallah to "be careful" with his words and actions.

Nasrallah meanwhile categorically denied in his Saturday speech Israeli claims about his group having factories to produce precision-guided missiles in Lebanon, saying such "lies" were an attempt to justify Israeli attacks against the country.

Nasrallah said his group possessed precision-guided missiles but not the factories to produce them.

"We do not have factories to produce precision-guided missiles in Lebanon," he said.

Israeli media reported early this week that the Israeli drones had targeted a facility housing a "planetary mixer," a large industrial machine that is critical to making missiles.

Israel's prime minister accused Iran and Hizbullah of racing to build a missile-production program in Lebanon, vowing to destroy the ambitious project and issuing a stern warning to his enemies to "be careful."

Nasrallah said Netanyahu was looking for pretexts to hit Lebanon. He said it is Hizbullah's "right" to have such factories, "but we have nothing of the sort."

Comments 7
Thumb warrior 01 September 2019, 04:16

Nasrallah Says Response to Israel Not Limited to Shebaa Farms

and did this Iranian terrorist seek the approval of the Lebanese and their government before he decided on his response?

Thumb beiruti 01 September 2019, 06:43

It is the problem of having a state within a state. The tumor speaks for the body. It has made its decision. Did the actual government of Lebanon have a role in the decision? Did it agree that this appendage would act in the name of the sovereign state? My guess is: No. Nasrallah decides war and peace, yet demands a role in the legitimate government which is rendered illegitimate by the existence of an organized military force on Lebanese soil that is outside of the command and control of the Lebanese Republic.

Thumb joebustani 01 September 2019, 06:45

Bless anyone person, entity, organization, brigade or country that inflicts extreme pain and unbearable suffering, death, torture, and destruction upon the iranian sectarian terrorist militia, its leaders, members, sponsors, supporters or followers wherever they may be.

Thumb EagleDawn 01 September 2019, 07:27

The day this evil iranian sectarian terrorist is brutally and violently murdered is the day we celebrate our true independence.

Thumb EagleDawn 01 September 2019, 07:27

Great picture, he looks like an unwashed shia terrorist (Huthi), and that's closer to his true character than the religious uniform he dishonored and desecrated for decades.

As to his speech: nice cartload of BS.

Thumb justin 01 September 2019, 11:02

Nassrallah said it is Hizbullah's "right" to have such factories, "but we have nothing of the sort."

Notice he said it is 'Hizbullah's right' and not Lebanon's right to have such factories.

Thumb rolfmao. 01 September 2019, 15:40

The timing and scale of Hezbollah's response, he added, was in the hands of field commanders.

This is the most dangerous and telling thing Nasrallah said. It shows that he's nothing but Hezballah's Jared Fogle, a spokesperson, the local face of the Iranian franchise. Now we understand better what he meant in 2006 when he said "لو كنت أعلم". So now Lebanon, all the Lebanese, their welfare and their livelihood are at the mercy of what Hezballah's field commanders unilaterally decide. And make no mistake "Hezballah's field commanders" is just a euphemism for a "low ranking mercenary in the Iranian Revolutionary Guards". I wonder what our "strong Christian president" and his "عهد القوي" is doing now.