On Thursday, September 19, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah spoke in a highly anticipated speech following the series of explosions of pagers and walkie-talkies in Lebanon, targeting in particular his movement’s means of communication. He acknowledged the significant blow that these attacks represent for his fighters, allies of the Palestinian Hamas and Iran. This while promising severe reprisals to the Hebrew state in the face of these events, which he accuses of being at the origin. A speech received with varying degrees of diversity by the Lebanese.
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During Hassan Nasrallah’s speechthe Israeli air force flew over Beirut at very low altitude and broke the sound barrier, imitating the sounds of explosions, reports our correspondent in Beirut, Sophie Guignon.
Like many Lebanese, Robert Khawand is worried. “Nobody knows what the future holds. I hope above all for peace, that we can work, take care of development.wishes the carpenter who lives in Beirut. Our children are gone, our friends are gone. The country is empty. How do we cope with the economic and financial situation, we see deaths every day on television, no one can cope with all this. »
” We are fighting to defend our land »
In front of the Hôtel de Dieu de France hospital, which has taken in 78 wounded people – mainly Hezbollah fighters – Oum Youssef el-Mawla has been waiting for two days. Dressed in black, she tries to get news of her loved ones with other families: ” We fight for the right, to defend our land. The 3 000 injured, there will be 3 000 more to replace them. Our leader of the resistance, we will always follow him, we see ourselves in him ” she cries.
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New Israeli raids in southern Lebanon
Since then, in southern Lebanon, clashes have resumed between the Iranian-allied Shiite party and Israel, raising fears of a new escalation. The Israeli army said it had carried out new Israeli raids in Lebanon against Hezbollah rocket launchers. ready to be used immediately to fire on Israeli territory “, Israel cried.
” Since this afternoon, [l’armée de l’Air] hit about 100 pitchers and others […] terrorist infrastructure representing approximately 1 000 guns “, according to a statement from the Israeli army, which assures of its determination to ” continue to demolish infrastructure and capacities […] Hezbollah to defend the State of Israel “.
Also read“We are afraid of everything”: in Lebanon, the explosions of communication devices sow panic
From Tel Aviv, residents concerned about possible escalation
In Tel Aviv, life goes on as usual on the eve of the weekend, the terraces of restaurants and bars are full. But the passers-by met by our special correspondent on site, Justine Fontainestill say they are worried. Like Aviv, 33: ” I am a little concerned that there could be an escalation, yes. Or even that Israeli forces could enter Lebanon. Or that Hezbollah could decide to bomb Tel Aviv. ” explains Aviv.
A few meters away, Zohar Bar-Or, 30, walks her dog in a park. She wonders whether or not she should take Hassan Nasrallah’s speeches seriously: ” He is always making statements from his bunker. ! They always say they’re going to do something big and most of the time they don’t follow through. But this time I think they can do it. ” she fears.
She said she was ready to support a possible Israeli ground intervention in southern Lebanon, if it would help put pressure on Hamas and bring back the hostages, the young woman said.
In Tel Aviv, residents worried about an escalation