Hezbollah Leader Criticizes US-UK Strikes, Warns Of Maritime Security Threat

In a televised speech, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, criticised the recent US and UK airstrikes on Yemen and warned that the operations in the Red Sea had turned the region into a battle zone, risking maritime security. Nasrallah stated that the peace in Gaza is essential to the security of the Red Sea, Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen.

“The US needs to understand that ending the conflict in Gaza is the only way to secure the Red Sea, Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen,” said Nasrallah, urging for a more comprehensive approach than only treating the symptoms.

There are concerns that the Gaza conflict may spread regionally as a result of the bombings, which are aimed at Houthi rebels who are allegedly responsible for attacking Israeli-linked ships. The Houthis’ vow of retaliation further complicates the position that Iran supports.

According to Nasrallah, United States measures will damage vessels unrelated to the conflict and have broader effects on maritime navigation. “Because the sea has become a theatre of fighting, missiles, drones, and warships,” he said, criticising the action.

Hezbollah, also backed by Iran, has not directly participated in the conflict but has continued to put pressure on Israel by attacking it every day along the southern border. After Israel was accused of intentionally killing a senior Hamas leader in Beirut and attacking Hezbollah members, tensions in early January increased.

Tens of thousands of people have been displaced on both sides of the border, and over 96,000 Israelis are living in temporary housing, as reported by Nasrallah. He said that Hezbollah benefits from this dislocation and uses it as leverage against the Israeli government.
Nasrallah described the military actions as a threat to maritime navigation and emphasised the need to address the root causes of the regional disputes. In response to the US and UK attacks, Nasrallah warned that the Houthis will continue to oppose Israel in the Red Sea.

Reference: Al Jazeera

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Source: Maritime Shipping News