Iranian state television has announced the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, although no further immediate comments were provided. In response, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated that “the resistance movement, led by Hezbollah, will decide the fate of the region,” during a broadcast on state TV on Saturday.
Iran is a principal supporter of Hezbollah and other resistance groups across the region. On the same day, Iran’s parliamentary committee on national security called for a “strong” response to Israel, following a meeting that underscored rising tensions. Reports indicate that anti-Israeli rallies erupted in major cities throughout Iran, showcasing public support for Hezbollah.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani declared a three-day mourning period in Iraq, where many political factions, backed by Iran, have ties to Hezbollah.
The backdrop to these events is a year marked by escalating hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. The conflict intensified on October 8, when Israel started military attack on Gaza and in response Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel. Since then, both sides have engaged in cross-border strikes, displacing tens of thousands of civilians.
Last week saw a dramatic escalation when explosives hidden in pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah detonated, leading to numerous casualties and severe injuries among civilians. Israel is widely believed to be behind this incident, which killed several Hezbollah commanders in Beirut over the past two weeks, culminating in Nasrallah’s death.
