Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Thursday condemned the fatal exploding devices attacks. Vowing retaliation, Nasrallah said they would continue its daily strikes on northern Israel.
“Israel has crossed all red lines,” said Nasrallah.
As Nasrallah’s televised speech progressed, the Israeli military launched new air strikes over the border. At least two Israeli soldiers were killed in the exchange of strikes.
At least 37 people were killed and over 3,000 people were injured in the recent device explosions in Lebanon.
Addressing Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Nasrallah said Israel will not be able to return its residents to the north.
"You will not be able to return the people of the north to the north...No military escalation, no killings, no assassinations and no all-out war can return residents to the border," said Nasrallah.
He also added that the recent week attacks targeting his group will be met with "just punishment".
“Let the enemy know what happened did not shake our faith, conviction, resolve, preparedness or infrastructure. On the contrary, this turned us more resolved, more robust and more adamant. If the Israeli’s objective was to separate us from what’s taking place in Gaza, it failed," he added.
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Nasrallah also said that no matter what scenarios unfold, the resistance in Lebanon will not stop supporting the resistance in Gaza and the West Bank and all the aggrieved in the occupied territories.
Meanwhile, the Hezbollah’s investigation committee is studying how the explosions happened.
He added that pager attacks were intended to kill "4,000 people in one moment". “This was the intention of the enemy, and this is the scale of criminality...What can we call this kind of criminal action. Is it a big operation? Is it genocide? Is it a massacre?” said Nasrallah.
Extending support to Hezbollah, Iran's Revolutionary Guards chief also said Israel will face "a crushing response from the axis of resistance".
However, Israel's defence minister Yoav Gallant said, “This is a new phase in the war, it has significant opportunities, but also heavy risks. Hezbollah is feeling chased and the sequence of our military operations will continue.”
“Our goal is to return the residents of the north to their homes safely. As time goes by, Hezbollah will pay an increasing price,” he added.