Hezbollah leader vows to wage comprehensive war against Israel if it expands attacks on Lebanon

Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Lebanese political and armed group Hezbollah, warned on Wednesday night of attacking Israel "without restraint" if it expands its attacks against Lebanon, local TV channel al-Manar reported.

Nasrallah made the remarks in a televised speech to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the assassination of top Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. drone attack on January 3, 2020.

Meanwhile, Nasrallah said the assassination of Saleh al-Arouri, Hamas' deputy chief, and other Hamas officials in Beirut a day earlier was "a dangerous crime."

He said the current confrontation on Lebanon's southern border has been limited, considering the priority of protecting Lebanon's stability and security.

However, "if Israel expands its attacks ... all our power will be used to attack Israel; we do not fear the war, and we are not hesitant about it; otherwise, we would have stopped fighting on the southern front," he said.

Tuesday's strike hit the southern Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh, in what analysts have said could also be a message from Israel to Hezbollah that even its prime stronghold there can be reached. 

It was the first strike to hit Beirut following almost three months of near-daily fire between the Israeli military and Hezbollah that has been confined to the border region.

The Lebanon-Israel border has witnessed increased tension since October 8 after Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets toward Israel in support of the Hamas attacks on Israel the previous day, prompting Israel to respond by firing heavy artillery toward southeastern Lebanon. 

More than 120 Hezbollah fighters have been killed in the Israeli bombardment, along with nearly two dozen civilians. At least nine Israeli soldiers have also been killed in the exchanges of fire.

(With input from agencies)