The assassination of Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah has ignited outrage in Tehran, prompting a five-day mourning period. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, vowed that Israel would face more painful strikes from the “Axis of Resistance”. Iranian media reported that Revolutionary Guard’s Deputy Commander of Operations, Brigadier General Abbas Nilforoushan, was also killed in the Israeli strike. Khamenei emphasized that the foundation laid by Nasrallah in Lebanon and the region would endure his loss, stating that “these individuals will determine the region’s fate”. He declared it every Muslim’s duty to support Lebanon and Hezbollah, a call interpreted by the Revolutionary Guard’s media as a “call for general jihad”. Iranian President Masoud Bazeshkian accused the U.S. of colluding with the Zionists, pointing to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s presence at the UN General Assembly in New York as evidence of this attack being orchestrated from there.
The assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah by Israel in Beirut has significantly heightened tensions between Hezbollah and Israel. Nasrallah, a pivotal figure in Middle Eastern politics for over three decades, led Hezbollah, which is considered one of the most powerful paramilitary organizations globally and designated as a terrorist group by the U.S. His death marks a critical juncture for Lebanon and the region, potentially sparking wider conflicts involving Iran and possibly the United States.
Nasrallah’s leadership saw Hezbollah grow into a formidable force with a substantial arsenal capable of reaching targets across Israel. His strategy significantly influenced the geopolitical dynamics of the Middle East, especially in terms of the conflict with Israel. The immediate aftermath of his assassination has seen a mix of mourning and heightened alert across the Arab world, with significant concerns about the future strategic moves from both Hezbollah and Israel