The already-tense Middle East situation had a new, dramatic twist when the Israeli military said it had killed the leader of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, in an airstrike on September 27, 2024, in Beirut, Lebanon. The attack also reportedly killed Hezbollah Southern Front Commander Ali Karki. The Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had been opposed to the airstrike, labeling Israel’s activities as ‘short-sighted’ and ‘stupid’ while declaring that it will surely bring in retaliatory measures. Khamenei reaffirmed the might of Hezbollah and the strength of regional resistance forces against Israeli aggression.

Israel Targets Hezbollah Leadership

Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claimed that Nasrallah was confirmed killed in a focused Israeli Air Force (IAF) jet attack on Hezbollah’s Central Headquarters. Hezbollah’s Central Headquarters location claimed to be located deep underground within Beirut’s Dahieh district. The targeted airstrike was part of an operation called “New Order”, to break the Hezbollah military chain of command. In this, Israel’s military statement held the Lebanese Nasrallah’s 32-year term as the Secretary-General of the Hezbollah, in which he was accountable for planning the mobilization of a few attacks to kill Israeli civilians and soldiers.

Israel’s Was Punishing Lebanon

Ayatollah Khamenei condemned Israel immediately after the airstrike as he addressed the Lebanon policies. Not confirming his death directly, Ayatollah Khamenei called Israel a ‘rabid dog’ as he condemned its acts of turning Lebanon’s civilians into its target as ‘savagely brutal’.

The series of tweets by Khamenei on X (formerly Twitter) said, “Zionist criminals must know that they are too small to cause any substantial damage to the strong structure of Hezbollah in Lebanon. All resistance forces in the region support and are standing with Hezbollah.”

He further claimed that despite the murder of thousands of innocent civilians, it would not undermine the structures of Hezbollah and its strong grip in the region. “The massacre of defenseless people in Lebanon once again proved to everyone the ferocity of the rabid Zionist dog,” Khamenei said.

On the one hand, the killing of defenseless civilians in Lebanon, has once again revealed the savage nature of the rabid Zionists to everyone. On the other hand, it has proven how shortsighted and insane the policies of the leaders of the occupying regime are. — Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) September 28, 2024

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Retaliation And Regional Tensions

The highest leader in the country said Hezbollah, backed by allies in the region, would retaliate over the attack. There is a claim that Khamenei has transferred himself to a safe place inside Iran, and Iran is consulting Hezbollah and other regional resistance forces about what they plan to do next. Both sides are preparing to expand the war between Hezbollah and Israel.

In addition, Iran’s elite reportedly has been making efforts to calm the situation and map out a course of action that would involve bigger regional players.

Israel Mobilizes Forces Amid Rising Tensions

For its part, Israel has begun to mobilize more reserve forces from the armed forces, including three battalions of combatants, said to be ready in case Hezbollah takes action. “Although the past days of attacks by Israel have caused significant damage to Hezbollah’s military apparatus, amongst others its bunkers and warehouses, its guided missiles stock remains in place,” said Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani of the Israeli military.

“The threat has not gone away,” Shoshani said, adding Israel remains in high alert readiness to respond to a counter-attack by Hezbollah or its allies.