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Local sources from Lebanon: Sky News Arabia سكاي نيوز عربية, فرانس 24 / FRANCE 24.
UK coverage: Sky News.

In a highly anticipated speech, Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah stopped short of declaring all-out war against Israel, but issued threats against the US and urged them to rein in Israel’s aggression in Gaza. His decision not to escalate the conflict for now is likely to be viewed with relief by those concerned about the potential for a wider regional war.

According to Sky News Arabia, observers and politicians in Tel Aviv believe that Nasrallah’s speech did not cause concern either at the official or popular level in Israel, especially since he did not announce engaging in a comprehensive war with the Israeli army. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to Nasrallah’s speech, stating that “any mistake will cost you a price you cannot even imagine.”

Nasrallah’s speech also alleviated many concerns within the Lebanese interior, particularly regarding the opening of a war front with Israel during this difficult time when the Lebanese people are politically divided and suffering from challenging economic conditions. Former Israeli Knesset member and lecturer at Ben-Gurion University, Yossi Yona, spoke to Sky News Arabia, stating that Nasrallah’s speech set limits to the escalation with Israel, and his words were a “symbolic gesture” to show solidarity with the Palestinian people without things spiraling out of control.

Meanwhile, in his speech to fervent supporters in Beirut, Nasrallah warned of the outbreak of a wide-scale regional war unless the Israeli attack on Gaza is halted, holding the United States responsible for its continuation. He affirmed his readiness to expand Hezbollah’s participation in the war, which it entered in support of Palestinian factions, considering that “all options are open” and emphasizing that the goal is “the victory of Hamas and the Palestinian people.”

Western powers and Israel have repeatedly warned Hezbollah in recent weeks against opening a new front from southern Lebanon. Nasrallah stated on Friday that he had received threats of American airstrikes on his party if it opened a front with Israel.

The war broke out following an unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,400 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli authorities. Since then, Israel has responded with devastating airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, accompanied by extensive ground operations within the territory. According to the Hamas-affiliated Ministry of Health, the airstrikes have resulted in the deaths of 9,227 people, including over 3,800 children.

In the southern suburbs of Beirut, as well as in Nabatieh, Baalbek, Baghdad, and Tehran, Hezbollah supporters and allied groups gathered as part of the “Resistance Axis” led by Iran to follow Nasrallah’s speech, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the party that the price of any “mistake” at the borders would be “high.”

Maham Yahya, director of the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center, believes that Nasrallah’s positions indicate that he and Iran “are not interested in entering a war.” She considers Nasrallah’s speech to be “the best middle ground” that can be offered, while finding himself and his allies in a “difficult position, whether they intervene or not.”

Nasrallah’s positions come at a time when many criticize Hezbollah’s performance and the state’s paralysis, amid a vacancy in the presidency since a year. They express concerns that Lebanon will be dragged into a war whose decision is in the hands of Hezbollah, the influential political force and the only non-state military force.

In conclusion, Nasrallah’s speech has been viewed with relief by those concerned about the potential for a wider regional war, while also alleviating many concerns within the Lebanese interior. Hezbollah’s leader has called for a ceasefire to avoid a regional war, and warned that any mistake on the part of the party will be met with a high price. It remains to be seen how the situation will unfold in the coming weeks.