Hezbollah leader says war with Israel has entered new phase

BEIRUT: Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah said on Thursday the battle with Israel has entered a new phase.

In a televised address, he reiterated that Hezbollah is not responsible for a rocket strike that killed 12 children in a soccer field in the northern Druze village of Majdal Shams on Saturday.

He says Hezbollah would have admitted if it made a mistake and killed civilians.

“The enemy is lying when it says that Shukr is responsible for the attack on Majdal Shams,” Nasrallah said.

“We said we did not carry out the attack. We have the courage to say it wasn’t us, we conducted an in-depth investigation and reported that it wasn’t us,” he said.

Nasrallah further added that there are experts who believe that an Iron Dome interceptor missile is what caused the deaths.

Nasrallah also offered condolences to the Druze families of the children killed in the Majdal Shams attack.

“The enemy’s goal is to create an inter-sectarian conflict, between the Druze and the other religions,” he said.

The Hezbollah chief also warned of revenge for the assassination of Shukr and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

“You don’t know the red line you have crossed,” he said, “We have entered a new phase in all arenas.” Nasrallah added that Israel’s killing of Shukr will “definitely” receive a response.