Nasrallah Builds Up Expectations Ahead Of Friday Speech

On the edge of their seats: Nasrallah builds up expectations ahead of Friday speech

Lior Ben-Ari

Observers wonder if the Hezbollah leader declares war on Israel, dragging Lebanon into a conflict it can't possibly afford, or simply bluster about resistance, backed with no actual military ramp up?

Interest increases ahead of a speech announced by Hassan Nasrallah, scheduled for Friday. This will be Nasrallah's first public statement since the war between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, and people are filled to the brim with theories about what he'll say.

As Hezbollah was already embroiled in low-key fire exchanges with the IDF for almost a month, many can't help thinking he'll announce an expansion of that conflict, while others believe that's not possible, considering the S.S Ford aircraft carrier is still resting in the eastern Mediterranean, looking to see if anything boils over on the Israel-Hezbollah front.  

Chief of staff Herzi Halevi Israel was prepared for a fight on multiple fronts and member of the war cabinet, Benny Gantz said he did not recommend to the Iran-backed terror group, to begin a war with Israel. IDF spokesperson, Brigadier General Daniel Hagari warned that the IDF was on full alert and prepared for any development. "We will respond forcefully to anyone who tries to destabilize the northern front," he said.

Rocket fire targeting the Galilee continued on Thursday with Hezbollah militants firing off an anti-tank missile toward an IDF outpost, and the Israelis responded by attacking a Hezbollah squad that attempted their own rocket launches in a nearby sector, including two outposts inside Lebanese territory. Hamas claimed responsibility for a rocket attack targeting the northern city of Kiryat Shmona where four of the rockets landed, wounding two and causing damage and a fire.

It would appear Hezbollah was going out of its way to ramp up expectations ahead of Nasrallah's speech, presumably as his behest. A promotional video shows Nasrallah walking down a hallway with his back to the camera, with the Hezbollah symbol parading in the background. It announced Nasrallah will speak in a ceremony celebrating "Martyrs who died on route to Jerusalem".

Other unaffiliated sources have since flooded social media with videos and pictures associated with Hezbollah, conveying vague messages designed to raise tensions and to get people to endlessly speculate on what he'll say, a tactic likely designed to beef up ratings for the actual speech.