A leading article published in a Beirut newspaper known for its close ties to Hezbollah has stated baldly that the Lebanese Shia terrorist organization is now being deployed by its Iranian paymasters across the Middle East, warning that Israel can expect “the rain of rockets that will fall in the midst of summer.”

“In Syria, Hizbullah has become the ally of the Syrian army in waging its battles, while in Iraq Hizbullah’s experts are present in the biggest operations rooms,” wrote Ibrahim al-Amin, the editor-in-chief of the unofficial Hezbollah mouthpiece, Al-Akhbar.

Al-Amin continued: “(Hezbollah secretary-general) Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah serves as the commander of the Al-Hash Al-Sha’bi [the popular mobilization units] in Iraq and as the nexus in running the political relations between most of the political forces there. In Yemen, Hizbullah has become a direct partner in strengthening the military capabilities of the Houthi Ansarullah who consider Hizbullah to be their truthful ally. As for Palestine, and in spite of recent developments, the religious organizations [such as Islamic Jihad and Hamas] refer to Hizbullah in Beirut to coordinate their activities, while the rulers of Saudi Arabia behave as if Nasrallah represents hundreds of thousands of fighters who listen to the Hizbullah leader’s words.”

Al-Amin’s article, published on July 3, was presented this week in an unedited translation by the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs (JCPA), a prominent Israeli think-tank. An accompanying introductory note by former IDF Brig. Gen. Shimon Shapira observed that al-Amin “often expresses the views of Hizbullah’s secretary-general, Hassan Nasrallah.”

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“Unfortunately, with global attention focused on ISIS, Hizbullah does not receive the attention it deserves as a military power capable of undermining the stability of the Middle East,” Shapira said.

Al-Amin asked whether “Israel can directly confront Hizbullah in Lebanon while it is fully aware that it doesn’t control what will happen the day after the beginning of hostilities.”

He continued: “Israel perfectly knows that all the drills and maneuvers undertaken to protect the domestic front will be of no use in controlling traffic in the area of Gush Dan [central coastal area of Israel] hours after the beginning of a total confrontation? Will the leaders of Israel be candid enough to tell their public what will be the fate of the electric grid, transportation networks, airports, sea ports, state headquarters and its infrastructure? Does the enemy really grasp ‘the rain of rockets’ that will fall in the midst of summer?”

“It is important to remember that since the first Gulf War until today, the Resistance Axis [meaning Iran and its satellites] did not initiate any action in the Arabian Peninsula, even in Yemen,” al-Amin concluded. “The Axis waged a defensive war only. However, if a decision is made to change course and wage an offensive war, then one could expect only one thing from the enemy: the choice of collective suicide.”