Preparing for a full-scale war? Amidst threats from Iran and Hezbollah for a broad response to the assassinations of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah senior member Fuad Shukur, it was reported today (Friday) that the Shiite terror organization is making preparations in Lebanon—presumably due to fears of an Israeli response to a Hezbollah attack.
According to Al-Hadath, Hezbollah has evacuated its headquarters in Dahieh, Beirut, and has started moving weapons from there. It was also reported that recent days have seen numerous meetings and extended discussions between Iranian and Lebanese officials and leaders of pro-Iranian militias in Iraq, who discussed ways to join the response in a manner "that could harm the interests of countries supporting Israel." Earlier today, it was reported that Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah decided to separate his activities in Lebanon from the ongoing war in Gaza, following the assassination of Hezbollah senior member Fuad Shukur in Beirut.
According to the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, the terror organization stated that any future ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip will not affect Hezbollah’s plans to respond to Shukur’s assassination, and the response will occur even at the cost of a separate war between Lebanon and Israel.
It was further claimed that Hezbollah refuses to participate in any negotiations regarding border arrangements or other issues. The terror organization has set two conditions for continuing talks: ending the war in Gaza and completing "revenge against Israel" for the assassination of its senior members, asserting that "there is no point in talking outside the battlefield."