The Lebanese Hezbollah, which is supported by Iran,
said they’re ready to join forces with their Palestinian ally Hamas in a war
against Israel at accurate time.
This comes after hundreds of Hamas fighters crossed
the border from Gaza on Saturday, killing over a thousand people, mostly
civilians.
As the Israel-Hamas conflict continues for the seventh
day, former has responded by bombing Hamas targets in Gaza, resulting in the
death of over 1,900 people – including mostly civilians – and the wounding of
over 600 children, as per the Palestinian Health Ministry.
“We, as Hezbollah, are contributing to the
confrontation and will (continue) to contribute to it within our vision and
plan,” Hezbollah deputy chief Naim Qassem told a pro-Palestinian rally in
Beirut’s southern suburbs.
“We are fully prepared, and when the time comes for
action, we will take it,” he said.
The official, whose remarks coincided with a visit to
Beirut by Iran’s Foreign Minister, rebuffed calls for Hezbollah to stay out of
the war.
Outreach by “major countries, Arab countries, and
envoys from the United Nations, directly and indirectly, asking us not to
interfere in the battle, will not affect us”, he said, adding, “Hezbollah knows
its duties.”
Israel has traded fire with Hezbollah and allied
Palestinian factions in Lebanon in recent days.
A Reuters journalist was killed and six others from
AFP, Reuters and Al Jazeera were wounded in southern Lebanon when they were
caught up in cross-border shelling on Friday.
Israeli forces had said its troops were “responding
with artillery fire towards Lebanese territory” after a blast damaged the
border barrier.
And early Saturday, the Israeli Air Force said on X,
formerly Twitter, that its forces had “struck a Hezbollah terror target in
southern Lebanon in response to the infiltration of unidentified aerial objects
into Israel and fire” on an Israeli drone.
“The IDF intercepted the infiltrating aerial object
and the fire” on the drone, it added.
In Beirut’s southern suburbs on Friday, more than
1,000 Hezbollah supporters rallied for Gaza, carrying Palestinian flags and
banners that read, “May God protect you”.
“(Hassan) Nasrallah, strike Tel Aviv,” they chanted,
addressing the leader of the Shiite Muslim group.
Najwa Ali, a Palestinian refugee born in Beirut 57
years ago, was among those taking part in the solidarity rally.
“I have never seen Palestine, but when I go back one
day, it will be with my head held high, without an Israeli soldier telling me
where to go or what to do,” she told AFP.
On Monday, Hezbollah said Israeli strikes killed three
of its members, while Palestinian fighters claimed a thwarted infiltration bid.
On Tuesday, Israel said it hit Hezbollah observation
posts, while Hamas’s armed wing claimed rocket fire.
On Wednesday, Hezbollah said it targeted an Israeli
position near the Lebanese village of Dhayra. Retaliatory Israeli fire wounded
three people.
Agencies
