Sat Sep 28 19:18:01 UTC 2024: ## Hezbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah Killed in Israeli Airstrike, Region on Edge

**Beirut, Lebanon** – The leader of Lebanon’s powerful Hezbollah group, Hassan Nasrallah, has been killed in an Israeli airstrike, sparking fears of a wider regional conflict. The Israeli military confirmed targeting Nasrallah’s underground headquarters near Beirut, while Hezbollah announced his death, vowing to continue its “holy war” against Israel.

Nasrallah, 64, was a prominent figure in the Middle East, known for his defiance of Israel and his close ties to Iran. He had rarely been seen in public since 2006, following an Israeli assassination attempt on his predecessor.

The attack, which flattened several buildings in Beirut’s southern suburbs, has drawn condemnation from numerous international leaders.

**Reactions to Nasrallah’s Death:**

* **Hamas:** The Palestinian group condemned the killing as a “cowardly, terrorist act” and expressed solidarity with Hezbollah.
* **US:** President Joe Biden called the killing a “measure of justice” for Nasrallah’s alleged victims, including American civilians, while reiterating US support for Israel’s right to defend itself.
* **Palestinian Authority:** President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the Israeli aggression.
* **Iran:** Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared five days of mourning and called for a united Muslim resistance against Israel. Iran’s foreign ministry vowed to continue Nasrallah’s path to “liberating Jerusalem.”
* **Iraq:** Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani condemned the attack as a “crime” and declared three days of mourning.
* **Turkey:** President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned Israel’s recent attacks in Lebanon as a policy of “genocide, occupation, and invasion.”
* **Yemen:** Houthi rebels pledged to continue their fight against Israel, claiming Nasrallah’s death would strengthen their resolve.
* **Lebanon:** Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri condemned the killing, warning that it plunges the region into “a new phase of violence.”
* **UN:** Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed grave concern over the “dramatic escalation” and called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all captives.
* **Germany:** Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock warned of a potential “absolute spiral of violence” in the region.
* **France:** The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs is working to prevent destabilization. Left-wing politician Jean-Luc Melenchon warned of a potential invasion of Lebanon.
* **Russia:** The Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the killing and called on Israel to stop hostilities in Lebanon.

The assassination of Nasrallah has raised serious concerns about a potential escalation of conflict in the Middle East. The international community is urging all parties to de-escalate the situation and avoid a wider war.

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