Iraqi demonstrators watch a speech from Lebanon's Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on a screen in Basra, Iraq, Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 (AP)

Several “European diplomatic entities and others contacted Hezbollah in Lebanon,” after the speech of its Secretary-General, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, yesterday, according to Al Mayadeen sources.

The sources confirmed that these entities have inquired "about the positions of Sayyed Nasrallah," specifically with regard to "how to attain a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, and the open possibilities that Sayyed Nasrallah spoke about."

Yesterday, Sayyed Nasrallah, in his speech, proclaimed that "What is happening in Gaza reveals the direct American responsibility for all this killing accompanied by US hypocrisy, and it also reflects the brutal and barbaric nature of the usurping entity that they planted in our region."

He also affirmed that "Washington is entirely responsible for the ongoing war in Gaza, while "Israel" is merely a tool for execution, stressing that “America is the side preventing the cessation of the aggression against Gaza and rejecting any ceasefire decision."

As a matter of fact, the Americans are the ones running the war in Gaza, according to Sayyed Nasrallah, "which instigated the Islamic Resistance in Iraq to initiate attacks on the American occupation bases in Iraq and Syria,” describing it as "a wise and courageous decision."

Also addressing the Americans, Sayyed Nasrallah said, "You can stop the aggression against Gaza because it is the aggression you unleashed, and whoever wants to prevent a regional war must hasten to stop this aggression."

In a stern warning, Sayyed Nasrallah declared that the Lebanese Resistance is ready for any eventuality, saying, "All possibilities on our Lebanese front are open and all options are on the table, and we could resort to them at any time," adding, "We must all be ready for any scenarios that may arise."

"All options are on the table."#Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan #Nasrallah confirms the Resistance's readiness and that all possibilities are open on the #Lebanese front. pic.twitter.com/FmnMY3dUyK
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) November 3, 2023

An all-out war is a realistic outcome

Moreover, and addressing comments assuming that he will declare in his speech that Hezbollah has officially joined the battle, Sayyed Nasrallah affirmed that the Resistance in Lebanon already joined in the battle on October 8, just one day after the launch of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7.

Emphasizing the strategic importance of the Lebanese front, the Resistance leader stressed that "what is happening on the Lebanese front today is very crucial, impactful, and unprecedented in the history of the entity."

He described the situation on the southern Lebanese front as a concealed but potent confrontation, saying that "since October 8, the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon has been waging a real battle that is only felt by those who are actually on the frontlines on the Lebanese-Palestinian border area," highlighting that Hezbollah's current battle is "distinct in its conditions, objectives, measures, and targets" from previous periods.

Sayyed Nasrallah provided insight into the tactical shifts prompted by the Resistance, stating, "The Lebanese front has significantly drawn off a large part of the Israeli forces that would have been directed against Gaza, pulling them toward us" and declared that the developments on the Lebanese front will not be left at their current state.

Sayyed Nasrallah addresses the Americans: You can stop the aggression against #Gaza because it is the aggression you unleashed, and whoever wants to prevent a regional war must hasten to stop this aggression. pic.twitter.com/LoxhrVV9kk
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) November 3, 2023

He highlighted the implications of a passive stance, saying, "If our stance was merely political solidarity and demonstrations, then the Israelis would be at ease at the northern borders and their forces would have proceeded to Gaza."

The leader of Hezbollah accentuated the military pressure exerted by the Resistance in Lebanon, saying, "The Lebanese front has succeeded in luring in a third of the Israeli army to our border." He noted the caliber of the forces engaged, revealing that "a significant portion of the Zionist forces stationed on the northern front are elite troops" and added that "half of the Israeli naval capabilities currently positioned in the Mediterranean are off the coasts of Lebanon and Haifa" and away from Gaza.

Continuing on the same point, Sayyed Nasrallah highlighted the strategic impact of the front in Lebanon, pointing out that it is unequivocal, as it forced the Israeli occupation to deploy a "third of its army" away from Gaza and toward the northern Palestinian border.

He also revealed that Hezbollah's operations pushed Israelis to push "a quarter of their aerial forces near Lebanon and direct almost half of their anti-air systems toward the Lebanese front."