The head of Lebanon’s pro-Iranian Hezbollah movement, Hassan Nasrallah, vowed Wednesday that nowhere in Israel will be safe if all-out war breaks out between the arch-enemies.
“Israel must wait for us on land, sea and air,” he said.
Hezbollah has a “bank of targets” to target in Israel, he said.
Nevertheless, he emphasized that his Shiite group is not seeking a full-fledged war with Israel.
The Hezbollah chief was speaking via video link to a memorial ceremony in Beirut for a senior commander killed by Israel in southern Lebanon last week.
Nasrallah also warned nearby Cyprus for the first time against cooperating with the Israeli army.
If the Cypriot government were to make its airports and military bases available to the Israeli army, the island nation would “become part of the war,” Nasrallah said.
Israeli media have reported that special forces from the Israeli army have traveled to Cyprus, an island in the Mediterranean Sea, to train in the fight against Hezbollah.
The situation between Lebanon and Israel has deteriorated. There are growing concerns that daily cross-border clashes between the Israeli army and the Hezbollah militia are about to expand.
The Israeli military approved plans for an offensive in Lebanon on Tuesday, raising concerns about an escalation.
The army said senior commanders had approved “operational plans for an offensive in Lebanon” during a situation assessment. The preparedness of the troops will be further increased.
Earlier on Wednesday, Hezbollah said at least three of its members were killed in an Israeli attack in southern Lebanon.
Lebanese security sources said the Israeli drone strike hit an area in the southern village of Yaroun, not far from the border with Israel.
