Hezbollah warns Israel against Lebanon border flare-up

[Pelican Press 0]

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Hezbollah warns ******* against Lebanon border flare-up

Hezbollah’s second-in-command warned on Saturday that an all-out war by ******* aimed at returning 100,000 displaced people to their homes in areas near the Lebanon border would displace “hundreds of thousands” more.

Naim Qassem, number two in the Iran-backed Lebanese group, was speaking after Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said ******* was determined to restore security to its northern front.

Gallant told ******** troops last week that “we are preparing for anything that may happen in the north”.

In a speech in Beirut, Qassem said: “We have no intention of going to war, as we consider that this would not be useful.

“However, if ******* does unleash a war, we will face up to it — and there will be large losses on both sides,” he said.

“If they think such a war would allow the 100,000 displaced people to return home … we issue this warning: prepare to deal with hundreds of thousands more displaced.”

Hezbollah has traded near-daily ***** with ******** forces in support of ally ****** since the ************ militant group’s October 7 ******* on ******* triggered war in Gaza.

Thousands of people living in the border area of both countries have been displaced by the fighting.

The cross-border ********* since early October has ******* 623 people in Lebanon, mostly fighters but also including at least 142 civilians, according to an AFP tally.

On the ******** side, including in the annexed Golan Heights, authorities have announced the deaths of at least 24 soldiers and 26 civilians.

Qassem said on Saturday of those displaced in *******: “It is impossible to bring them back, no matter the sacrifices made.

“So take your time and think about it before reaching a decision. We are prepared for any eventuality.”

In late August, *******’s military said it had foiled a major ******** by Hezbollah aimed at avenging a military commander ******* by an ******** air strike near Beirut.

******* said it destroyed “thousands” of Hezbollah rocket launchers, while the Lebanese group insisted it had fired a drone and rocket barrage across the border.

It was perhaps the biggest exchange of ***** between ******* and Hezbollah since the Gaza war began.

However, the ********* has since eased, with analysts believing that both sides wish to avoid a wider regional flare-up.

jos/srm/kir

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