As the one-year anniversary of the Israel-Hamas war approaches, a recent pro-Palestinian demonstration in Rio de Janeiro drew attention when a woman held up a sign in Portuguese that read, “End the Explosion in Lebanon.” At the same time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stark warning to the Lebanese people, urging them to liberate their country from the militant group Hezbollah or face destruction and suffering similar to what the Palestinians in Gaza have experienced.
In a video address to the people of Lebanon, Netanyahu stated, “You have the opportunity to save this country before it plunges into the depths of a prolonged war. This conflict will bring devastation and suffering, just like we’ve seen in the Gaza Strip.” He called on Lebanese citizens to “free your country from Hezbollah; only then will this war come to an end.” Netanyahu also claimed that the Israeli military has eliminated “thousands of terrorists, including Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and his successors.”
Countering Netanyahu’s claims, Sheikh Naim Qassem, Hezbollah’s deputy secretary-general, declared on October 8 that the organization has successfully replaced all senior commanders lost in Israeli airstrikes, asserting that their military capabilities remain intact. “We have no vacant positions,” he stated, warning that Hezbollah would continue to launch rockets deeper into Israel, which could lead to increased displacement for Israeli civilians.
In the wake of Iran’s missile attack on Israel on October 1, Israel has vowed retaliation, specifically targeting Iranian oil facilities. Iranian military sources, as reported by the Tasnim News Agency, revealed that Iran has prepared at least ten different strategies to counter any potential Israeli actions, demonstrating their serious commitment to responding to hostilities.
These sources indicated that Iran could deploy any of these plans as needed, mentioning that the strategies are adaptable, implying that Iran’s response could be more severe than anticipated and aimed at multiple targets to enhance effectiveness.
Additionally, the sources noted that Israel’s “occupied territories” are smaller than Iran and possess “fewer and more sensitive infrastructures,” suggesting that Iran’s retaliation could create unprecedented challenges for Israel.
Iranian sources also cautioned that many nations have chosen not to support Israel, warning that any country aiding Israeli operations could cross Iran’s red lines and face consequences. Meanwhile, the Iran-backed Houthi Movement has heightened tensions by launching missiles towards Israel from Yemen, and Israel has promised a decisive response to these attacks, although specifics of its response have yet to be disclosed.
