After Nasrallah’s speech, Israeli military sees diminished Hezbollah threat

Ben Caspit

Nov 3, 2023

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah delivers his first speech since the Gaza war erupted almost four weeks ago, broadcast as part of an event in Beirut's southern suburbs, a stronghold of the Iran-backed militant group — Supporters of the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah watch a televised speech by its leader Hassan Nasrallah in the Lebanese capital Beirut's southern suburbs on Nov. 3, 2023. — AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP via Getty Images

TEL AVIV - Israel waited anxiously for Friday’s speech by Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, his first public utterance since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7.

Reflecting their nervousness, Israeli generals and politicians in recent weeks issued dire warnings to the Shiite leader against getting involved. "Everyone talks about the intensity of the air force attacks on Gaza," a senior Israeli security source told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity after Nasrallah's Friday speech. "But the truth is that the force is only operating at 40% of its capabilities, because all eyes are on Nasrallah's north. If the northern arena ignites, Hezbollah will feel the full capability of the air force.”

Hezbollah, he added, should know that Israel’s capabilities have been significantly upgraded since the Second Lebanon War in 2006.

"Anticlimactic"