Hezbollah chief says Israeli attacks 'crossed all red lines, vows retribution

Deadly Israeli attacks that blew up Hezbollah radios and pagers crossed all red lines, the leader of the heavily armed Lebanese movement said on Sept 19, in a speech broadcast as sonic booms from Israeli warplanes shook buildings in Beirut.

Lebanon and Hezbollah have blamed Israel for attacks on Hezbollah's communications equipment that killed 37 people and wounded around 3,000, overwhelming Lebanese hospitals and wreaking bloody havoc on Hezbollah.

Israel has not directly commented on the attacks, which security sources say were probably carried out by its Mossad spy agency.

"There is no doubt that we have been subjected to a major security and military blow that is unprecedented in the history of the resistance and unprecedented in the history of Lebanon," Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said in his TV address, filmed at an undisclosed location.

"This type of killing, targeting and crime may be unprecedented in the world," he said, appearing in front of a featureless red background in his customary black turban. The attacks "crossed all red lines".

"The enemy went beyond all controls, laws and morals," he said, adding that the attacks "could be considered war crimes or a declaration, or war, they could be called anything, and they deserve to be called anything.

"Of course, that was the intention of the enemy".

He said Israel will face "tough retribution and just punishment, where it expects it and where it does not", adding that he would not give further details of the place, timing or nature of Hezbollah's response.

As the broadcast was aired, deafening sonic booms from Israeli warplanes shook Beirut, a sound that has become common in recent months, but has taken on a greater significance as the threat of all-out war has steadily risen.

Israel said its warplanes struck southern Lebanon overnight.

Hezbollah reported that air strikes resumed in the border area in the afternoon.