Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, speaking for the first time since the Israel-Hamas war erupted, said on Friday that the operation launched by the Hamas terrorist group against Israel on Oct. 7 was “100% Palestinian.”

A formidable military force backed by Iran, Hezbollah has been engaging Israeli forces along the Lebanon-Israel border in the deadliest escalation since it fought a war with Israel in 2006.

Nasrallah claimed that Lebanon joined on October 8 and thanked groups in Yemen and Iraq, part of what is known as the “Axis of Resistance.” It includes Shi’ite Muslim Iraqi militias which have been firing at US forces in Syria and Iraq, and Yemen’s Houthis, who have joined in the conflict by firing drones at Israel.

He said the Oct. 7 operation led to an “earthquake” in Israel and that it exposed the country’s weakness.

Goals to destroy Israel

He insisted that the first goal was to stop “aggression” against Gaza, and the second goal would be to ensure the victory of Hamas. He insisted that countries end trade with Israel and that Arab and Muslim countries cease sending oil to the United States.