Tensions in the Middle East have escalated dramatically after Israeli airstrikes killed Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah and senior Iranian commander Abbas Nilforoushan.
Despite global condemnation, including from Russia and several nations in the Global South, Israel has continued bombing Lebanon, which has so far resulted in over 1,000 deaths, according to local Lebanese authorities.
The assassination of Nasrallah, a significant figure in the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, has raised fears of a wider regional conflict.
Iran has vowed retaliation, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warning that Nasrallah’s death “will not go unavenged.”
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a televised address, warned Iran that Israel’s reach extends across the Middle East, signalling further strikes if necessary.
“There is nowhere in Iran or the Middle East beyond the reach of the long arm of Israel,” Netanyahu stated.
The U.S. has justified the assassination, with President Joe Biden calling it “a measure of justice” for the victims of Hezbollah’s long-standing military activities.
The U.S. is also considering increasing its military presence in the region, with additional forces and warships possibly being deployed to contain the situation.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah has vowed to continue its fight against Israel, pledging to support Palestine and Gaza. The situation remains tense, with growing fears that the violence could spread beyond Lebanon and Israel.
Iran vows revenge as Israel intensifies bombing of Lebanon after Nasrallah’s killing