(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Hezbollah retaliated against Israel on Wednesday for a Jan. 18 Israeli airstrike in southern Syria that killed six Hezbollah members and an Iranian general.
The group fired a missile at an Israeli army vehicle killing two Israeli soldiers and wounding several others, in what was widely considered the biggest escalation since the 2006 war.
A member of a United Nations peacekeeping force from Spain was killed by Israeli strikes following the retaliation.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah lashed out against Israel for reportedly killing several of its members, describing Israel as “a cancerous growth” and a “bacterium of corruption.”
“Our brothers in Quneitra were killed in a clear assassination, in a decision taken by Israel,” Nasrallah said. “Israel has not yet claimed responsibility for the airstrike believing that Hezbollah is weak and would disregard the attack.”
Nasrallah said Hezbollah is prepared to fight Israel, despite committing resources in Syria and Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley.
“If Israel is thinking that we fear war, then I tell it that we do not fear war and we will not hesitate to take it if it is imposed on us,” Nasrallah said.
A Foreign Ministry statement said Lebanon remained committed to U.N. Resolution 1701, arguing that Hezbollah’s attack did not amount to a violation of the 2006 deal since it targeted an Israeli military convoy inside the Shebaa Farms, which is occupied Lebanese territory.
Former President Michel Sleiman called on political forces to stand behind the Lebanese government, cautioning that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking to take advantage of Lebanon to serve his election interests.
“Israel should not be allowed to take advantage of Lebanese divisions,” Sleiman said.
LISTEN to Nasrallah’s remarks from January 30, 2015: