Hezbollah leader calls Israeli attack a ''declaration of war'' (vid)

In a televised speech Thursday, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah condemned Israel's remote detonation of pagers and walkie-talkies in Lebanon as a "declaration of war." The attack, which killed at least 32 people and injured over 3,300, mostly Hezbollah members, marked Nasrallah's first public response to the incident.

Nasrallah warned that Israel will face "just punishment" but did not elaborate on Hezbollah’s plans for retaliation, signaling that the risk of an all-out war along the Israeli-Lebanese border has significantly increased.

Earlier Thursday, Hezbollah conducted attacks near the border, killing two Israeli soldiers. In response, Israeli fighter jets launched strikes in southern Lebanon, with the Israel Defense Forces accusing Hezbollah of turning civilian areas into military zones.

Nasrallah called the Israeli attacks an "unprecedented blow," claiming Israel aimed to kill 5,000 Hezbollah operatives. He also stated that fighting on the Lebanese front would not cease until the war in Gaza ends.

Iran’s IRGC commander, Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami, pledged a "crushing response" in support of Hezbollah, while Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant warned that Hezbollah would face escalating consequences as the conflict continues.

With information from Axios.com