Houthis and Hezbollah Say Ready to Enter War Against Israel

The Ansar Allah (Houthi) group on Saturday held a military parade, marking the 60 anniversary of the October 14 Revolution. The parade was organized in Al-Bayda, which overlooks southern provinces.

Houthi helicopters were part of the military display. The flag of Palestine was shown on the helicopters, a sign that the Houthi group is ready to attack Israel, which has been at war against Hamas fighters in Gaza.

The Houthi Defense Minister, Major General Muhammad Nasser Al-Atifi, said, "Our armed forces congratulate the blessed military operation "Al-Aqsa Flood," led by the Palestinian fighters with the support of the Axis of Resistance. The operation inflicted the greatest military, intelligence, and moral defeat on the arrogant occupying Zionist entity."

The Lebanon-based Hezbollah group attacked Israeli positions in occupied Lebanese territories Saturday afternoon, a move that would open a new front for the Israeli army, which has been bombing Gaza and confronting the Hamas fighters for a week.

A statement by Hezbollah said, "At 3:15 pm today, Saturday 10/14/2023, groups of the Islamic Resistance attacked the Zionist positions in the occupied Lebanese Shebaa Farms… with guided missiles and mortar shells which directly and accurately hit the [targets]."

This development puts military pressure on Israel, signifying that fighting between Israel and its neighboring opponents is set to prolong.

On Saturday, Iran's foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, called on Israel to stop its attacks on Gaza, warning that Israel would suffer "a huge earthquake" if Hezbollah will join the battle.

Amirabdollahian met Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who briefed him on Lebanon's conditions. Amirabdollahian said, "I know about the scenarios that Hezbollah has put in place. Any step the resistance (Hezbollah) will take will cause a huge earthquake in the Zionist entity."

On Friday, Hezbollah deputy chief Naim Qassem said that Hezbollah would not be swayed by calls to remain on the sidelines of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. He added, "Hezbollah knows its duties perfectly well. We are prepared and ready, fully ready."

Reports have said Hezbollah owns an arsenal of tens of thousands of rockets and missiles capable of hitting virtually anywhere in Israel and is considered more powerful than Hamas. Israeli leaders have warned that they would cause massive destruction in southern Lebanon if Hezbollah joins the war.

U.S. President Joe Biden has warned countries and groups in the Middle East against capitalizing on the conflict, sending warships and planes of military equipment to Tel Aviv and vowing full support for Israel.

On Friday, Saudi Arabia denounced the Israeli siege of Gaza, the Palestinians' displacement, and attacks on "defenseless civilians. A statement by the Saudi foreign ministry said, "Saudi Arabia affirms its categorical rejection of calls for the forced displacement of the Palestinian people from Gaza and its condemnation of the continued targeting of defenseless civilians there."