Nasrallah's speech for the commemoration of the July 2006 war: Here's what you need to know

BEIRUT — Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah spoke this Monday evening at a ceremony marking the 17th anniversary of the end of the July 2006 war. The fighting between Israel and Hezbollah left more than 1,200 dead on the Lebanese side, mostly civilians, and 160 dead on the Israeli side, mostly soldiers.

Nasrallah's speech took place against a tense political and security backdrop in Lebanon, following last Wednesday's shoot-out in Kahaleh between Hezbollah militiamen and residents of this predominantly Christian town, which left one person dead on each side.

The pro-Iranian party also faces accusations by its detractors, notably the Lebanese Forces (LF) and the Kataeb, of involvement in the suspicious death of a former LF official in Ain Ibl, South Lebanon.

Here are the main points of Nasrallah's speech:

On the Kahaleh shootout

- "We have ammunition and weapons that we transport from one place to another in civilian trucks or other vehicles. The truck fell. It's normal for some people to come and help. The situation was normal until one of the TV channels started showing people attacking Hezbollah. Who attacked whom? The investigation will tell. We don't consider that we have a problem with the people of Kahaleh or their families."

- When the truck that was carrying the weapons overturned “after a technical error," for three hours there were no tensions. The clashes happened after “one known TV channel triggered tensions so some people came and tensions rose.”

- "The judiciary must take into consideration that if it weren’t for this malicious channel none of what happened would have taken place."

- "I call for calm in political discourse and on social networks."

- "I say to the Lebanese in general, and to Christians in particular: There are political forces whose actions are pushing the country towards civil war."

- "A civil war would harm everyone."

- "There will be no partition of the country, we will not allow it."

- "This country is based on partnership. It's not easy, but there's no other choice."

Last Wednesday, two people were killed, including a Hezbollah member, in a shootout in the village of Kahaleh after a Hezbollah-0perated truck carrying ammunition overturned in the locality.

The incident prompted a number of reactions from both Hezbollah and its opponents. Hezbollah claims to have been attacked that day by "militiamen." The party's opponents denounce its military arsenal.

About Israel

- "If Israel declares war on Lebanon, it will be reduced to the Stone Age."

Last week, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen threatened, in an interview with the Saudi media outlet Elaph, to "take Lebanon back to the Stone Age," and lashed out at Hassan Nasrallah, calling him "weak" and "hiding like a rat in the cellar."

- "If a battle breaks out with the axis of the Resistance, there will be nothing left to bear the name of Israel."

- "The Israeli enemy has shifted from attack to defense; even when it launches attacks on Gaza, the West Bank and Syria, it attacks from a defensive position."

- "Since the 2006 war, the Israeli army has been in decline."

On offshore gas exploration

- "The delimitation of the maritime border [with Israel] and the start of exploration [for offshore hydrocarbons] would not have been possible without the results of the July 2006 war. And it would not have been possible without cohesion between the Resistance and the Lebanese state.

- "The establishment of a sovereign wealth fund is an urgent necessity for Lebanon so that oil resources can be returned to all Lebanese and enjoyed by future generations."

- "Let's hope this subject doesn't get into political backlash but is approached in a patriotic way."

In early August, the parliamentary Finance and Budget Committee approved a legislative proposal for the creation of the Lebanese Sovereign Wealth Fund, which is due to be considered by Parliament on Thursday.

Earlier this year, the country relaunched the exploration process in Block 9 of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), following the conclusion in October 2022 of an agreement settling its long-standing border dispute with neighboring Israel. An exploration rig is due to arrive in Block 9 on Wednesday.

About recent dialogue with the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM)

- "The dialogue started with the Free Patriotic Movement is serious and will reach an outcome… we and the FPM are aware that we don’t have the luxury of time and that we should benefit from every moment."

- "There are some political factions that don’t want any dialogue between the Lebanese. We are keen on dialogue and unity."