10 Takeaways From Nasrallah's Speech Today

PALESTINIANS SEARCH FOR SURVIVORS FOLLOWING AN ISRAELI AIRSTRIKE IN THE JABALIA REFUGEE CAMP NORTH OF GAZA CITY, OCTOBER 31, 2023. (PHOTO: © FADI WAEL ALWHIDI/DPA VIA ZUMA PRESS)

Secretary-General of Hezbollah Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah addressed the world today, Friday afternoon, from an undisclosed location in Lebanon. It seemed to my husband and me quite an important speech, historic and international in scope. 

My takeaways:

1) It sounded and felt like a wartime speech from a credible leader. He characterized what's happened since October 6 as a regional war but one with real potential to become global. He also expressed that world history has been changed significantly by Oct 6 and subsequent events. We are all now divided into those who stand with Palestine and those who don't.

2) Nasrallah said Hezbollah knew nothing in advance of the Al-Aqsa Flood.

3) Nevertheless, they are in complete solidarity with Hamas and have been active on Lebanon's southern border engaging Israeli military and drawing them off from Gaza since Oct 8. Many settlements near that border have already been evacuated of Israelis.

4) For those who ask when will Hezbollah enter the conflict, see #3 above.

5) Other resistance forces in Iraq and Syria have repeatedly shelled U.S. military bases in those countries since the events of Oct 6. This pressure will continue and increase.

6) It is clear to the whole world that Israel's war on Palestinians in Gaza is the U.S.'s war. The U.S. military failed in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria -- and it will fail in Palestine.

7) Israel's military is weak and would not be able to pursue the war on Gaza without significant support and funding from the U.S.

8) The resistance remains stronger than ever and will continue the struggle with perseverance, solidarity, and despite any pain the occupier can inflict. He said, the people who kicked you out of Lebanon in the early 80's are still here, and now their children and grandchildren have joined them.

9) We see you, countries that continue to sell oil and gas to Israel. Your consequences will be different from those who stand with Palestine.

10) The U.S. Navy and Air Force are vulnerable, particularly in the Mediterranean, and if they are used to attack, for example, Iran or Lebanon, they will find out how vulnerable.

Disclaimer: I only heard the simultaneous translation to English on Press TV and the translator stumbled a couple of times, so I'll reserve final thoughts after I've had a chance to read through a solid translation.