By hannover-web.com On October 8, a protest in Rio de Janeiro marked one year since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict, where a woman held up a sign in Portuguese that read, “End the explosions in Lebanon.” The demonstration coincided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s stern warnings to the Lebanese populace. He cautioned that unless they “liberate” their nation from the militant group Hezbollah, they could suffer consequences akin to those experienced by Palestinians in Gaza.
In a direct appeal to the Lebanese people via video, Netanyahu said, “This is your opportunity to save your country before it descends into a prolonged war. The type of destruction and suffering we’ve witnessed in Gaza awaits you if this conflict escalates.” He urged, “I call upon you, the Lebanese people—free your country from Hezbollah; only then can this war end.”
Netanyahu claimed that Israeli military efforts have “eliminated thousands of terrorists, including leaders from Hezbollah, such as Hassan Nasrallah and his successors.”
Meanwhile, Sheikh Naim Qassem, Hezbollah’s deputy secretary-general, announced on the same day that the group had fully replaced all senior commanders killed in Israeli airstrikes, asserting that their military capabilities remain intact. He stated, “We have no vacant positions,” and indicated that Hezbollah would continue to fire rockets deeper into Israeli territory, potentially leading to further displacement of Israeli civilians.
Following an Iranian missile attack on Israel on October 1, Israeli officials threatened retaliation, specifically targeting Iranian oil facilities. In response, Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported that Tehran’s armed forces are prepared with at least ten plans to counter any Israeli actions, highlighting their readiness for potential conflict.
Sources mentioned that Iran’s response could vary in intensity and aim at different strategic targets to maximize impact. “Iran may choose not to match Israel’s level of retaliation; instead, their response could be more severe and targeted differently,” the sources explained.
It was emphasized that the territory occupied by Israel is smaller than Iran’s and that Israel’s infrastructure is sensitive, which could create significant challenges for the U.S. ally in the event of an Iranian retaliation.
Additionally, Iranian officials warned that many nations have declared they would not back actions against Israel, stating that any country aiding Israel would cross Iran’s red lines and face repercussions. In a related escalation, the Iran-backed Houthi Movement launched missiles from Yemen towards Israel, intensifying regional tensions. Israel has promised a decisive response to these provocations, although specific details regarding their actions remain undisclosed.
