Reinforcing the deterrent message to Israel and various other issues raised in Hassan Nasrallah’s interview after several months of media silence

On January 26, 2019, Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah gave a detailed interview to the Lebanese (pro-Hezbollah) Al-Mayadeen Channel. The interview was granted after several months during which Hassan Nasrallah refrained from giving interviews (this was especially conspicuous during Israel’s Operation Northern Shield, which recently ended).

The interview was broadcast live, probably in order to refute the rumors on Nasrallah’s health problems. The interview was conducted by Ghassan Ben Jeddou, who is closely connected to Hassan Nasrallah and to Hezbollah’s leadership (Ben Jeddou already interviewed Nasrallah).

Beyond refuting the rumors on Nasrallah’s health problems, in the ITIC’s assessment, the interview was intended to reinforce the deterrent message to Israel in the Lebanese and Syrian arenas, possibly out of the assessment that this message has eroded following the Israeli achievement of uncovering the tunnels in Operation Northern Shield. The message was reinforced by Nasrallah’s emphasis on Hezbollah’s military capabilities, mainly the rockets and precision missiles (which, according to Nasrallah, can reach any spot in Israel and hit within a few meters from their target).

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