Harakat al-Nujaba chief threatens renewed military response over Israeli strikes on Lebanon

BAGHDAD — Harakat al-Nujaba secretary-general Akram al-Kaabi warned Wednesday that “the resistance front will return to discipline it by force” following continued Israeli strikes in Lebanon, raising the prospect of a renewed campaign by Iraq-based Iran-aligned factions despite the just-announced U.S.-Iran ceasefire.

“Given the continued recklessness of the Zionist enemy and its violation of covenants and agreements and its targeting of our people in Lebanon — as is its religion, and its way is treachery, lying, and deception — the resistance front will return to discipline it by force,” al-Kaabi said. “These treacherous ones will not be deterred except by breaking their covenants and agreements, but let them know that times have changed and matters have changed, and they will regret this treachery.”

His remarks came hours after Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada leader Abu Alaa al-Walaei called for a coordinated response through a joint operations framework, also citing Israeli bombardment in Lebanon.

Israeli forces carried out around 100 airstrikes Wednesday targeting areas in central Beirut including Ain al-Tineh — the official headquarters of Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri — as well as the southern suburbs, the Bekaa region and southern Lebanon, with Lebanese media reporting extensive damage, dozens of casualties and a state of emergency in Beirut hospitals.

The threats come on the same day the Islamic Resistance in Iraq announced a two-week halt to military operations following the U.S.-Iran ceasefire — a pause al-Kaabi’s statement appears to condition on Israeli behavior in Lebanon, potentially narrowing the window before operations resume.