The leader of the Lebanese armed militia Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, vowed on Thursday that his group would exact retribution from Israel for the coordinated attacks of exploding pagers and hand-held radios that killed 37 people and wounded thousands more this week.
Israel “will face just retribution and a bitter reckoning,” Mr. Nasrallah said in his first televised remarks since the explosions on Tuesday and Wednesday. But, he added, “I will not discuss time, nor manner, nor place.”
“This retribution will come. Its manner, size, how and where — these are things we will certainly keep to ourselves, in the narrowest circles even among us,” he said.
As Mr. Nasrallah spoke, Israeli fighter jets swooped low over Beirut, accompanied by sonic booms that sent residents running from their homes.
The attacks were widely attributed to Israel, which has declined to publicly take responsibility. Booby-trapped wireless devices belonging to Hezbollah members detonated across the country, often in their owners’ hands and pockets. More than 2,900 people were wounded; the breakdown between civilians and combatants remained largely unclear.
The coordinated attacks raised tensions in a region already on edge. After the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, which triggered the war in Gaza, Israel rushed soldiers to its northern border, fearing a similar invasion by Hezbollah. (Hamas and Hezbollah are both backed by Iran and dedicated to the destruction of the Israel.)
The following day, Hezbollah fighters began firing missiles and drones at Israel, prompting Israel to respond with airstrikes and artillery fire.
Nearly a year later, the situation remains a deadly stalemate. Both sides regularly conduct cross-border attacks, and more than 150,000 Israelis and Lebanese have fled border communities that have become free-fire zones. Israeli leaders have felt increasing pressure from roughly 60,000 displaced Israelis to take more aggressive military action against Hezbollah.
In a mostly defiant speech broadcast from an undisclosed location, Mr. Nasrallah conceded that this week’s attacks had been “a severe and cruel blow.” But he said even Israel’s “technological superiority” would not deter Hezbollah from continuing to fire missiles and drones at Israel in solidarity with Hamas in Gaza.
He accused Israel of violating international law by detonating the devices in civilian areas, including hospitals. And he said the Hezbollah had formed internal committees to investigate the security breach that allowed Israel to plant explosives in the group’s communication devices.
Mr. Nasrallah told his audience that Hezbollah had received messages that the goal of the Israeli operation was to force the group to stop its military operations in support of Hamas or face more Israeli attacks. He said Hezbollah would not bow to pressure.
“No matter which future awaits the region — the resistance in Lebanon will not stop supporting and backing the people of Gaza,” Mr. Nasrallah said.
Israeli officials have increasingly suggested in recent days that they intend to ratchet up their military operations in Lebanon to fend off Hezbollah.
On Wednesday night, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, released a short video in which he vowed that Israel would facilitate the safe return of displaced Israelis to their homes along the country’s northern border.
Mr. Nasrallah mocked Mr. Netanyahu’s pledge, saying Hezbollah would not allow Israelis to return to their border towns until Israel ends its war in Gaza.
“Do whatever you like. You are incapable of achieving it,” said Mr. Nasrallah. “Military escalation, killing, assassinations, and total war — none of them will bring those residents back to the border,” he added.
Analysts said the attacks humiliated Hezbollah, piercing its reputation as one of Israel’s most sophisticated foes, and seemed to necessitate a forceful response. But retaliating too forcefully could ignite a wider war with Israel at a time when many Hezbollah fighters were apparently wounded by the attacks.
In his address, Mr. Nasrallah sought to downplay the impact of the attacks on the armed group’s readiness for a full-blown war. Hezbollah’s fighting capabilities “did not shake or tremble” and its command and control structure was still intact, he said.
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