Israel soldiers stand next to artillery units near the Israeli side of the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip, November 3, 2023. REUTERS/Amir Cohen
The leader of Hezbollah, a Iran-backed group in Lebanon, issued a warning to the United States, stating that if Israel did not cease its assault on Gaza, the ongoing conflict could escalate into a regional war. Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, in his first speech since the outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Hamas on October 7, also implied that his Iran-backed paramilitary organization was prepared to confront U.S. warships in the Mediterranean.
Hezbollah, a heavily armed ally of Hamas in Gaza, has engaged Israeli forces along the Lebanon-Israel border, marking the most significant escalation since the 2006 war. Nasrallah urged the United States to intervene in the conflict, asserting that they bore responsibility for the aggression. He also emphasized that Hezbollah was undeterred by the U.S. naval presence in the region.
The situation in the region had become more complex, as other Iran-aligned groups had entered the fray since October 7, with Tehran-backed Shiite groups attacking U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria, and Yemen’s Houthi rebels launching drones towards Israel.
Nasrallah’s comments were made during a visit to Israel by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who urged Israel to temporarily halt its military operation to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. However, Israel insisted on the release of hostages held by Hamas as a condition for any ceasefire.
The Israeli military continued its offensive against Hamas, encountering fierce urban warfare in the densely populated Gaza City. Aid agencies expressed concern about the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region, as food supplies dwindled and medical services deteriorated.
France planned to hold a humanitarian conference for Gaza’s civilians, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. The UN also described the situation in the occupied West Bank as “alarming,” with Israeli forces using military tactics and weapons in law enforcement operations, resulting in casualties among Palestinians.
In the midst of these developments, the people of Gaza anxiously awaited a potential truce, hoping to avoid further suffering in the ongoing conflict.
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