Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has vowed retaliation following the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in Israeli airstrikes on Beirut. Khamenei declared five days of mourning in Iran for Nasrallah, a key figure in Middle Eastern politics who had long avoided public appearances due to fears of assassination by Israel.
“The death of Nasrallah will not go unavenged,” Khamenei warned, signaling heightened tensions in the region. Nasrallah, one of the most influential leaders in the Middle East, had been a prominent target of Israeli forces for years.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Nasrallah’s death a “historic turning point,” stating that Israel had “settled the score.” Netanyahu described the operation as a significant achievement for Israel’s security.
U.S. President Joe Biden also weighed in, describing Nasrallah’s death as a “measure of justice for his many victims” while reiterating his call for a ceasefire amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Despite these appeals, cross-border violence continues to escalate.
Lebanon’s health ministry reported that at least 33 people were killed and nearly 200 wounded in Israeli strikes on Saturday, as clashes between Israel and Hezbollah intensify along the border. The situation remains volatile, with no immediate signs of de-escalation.
