Biden Calls Nasrallah Killing ‘Justice’ for Hezbollah Victims \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut, marking a major event in the ongoing regional conflict. President Joe Biden described the strike as a “measure of justice” for victims of Hezbollah’s violence. The White House emphasized its commitment to preventing further escalation in the Middle East, while Iranian leaders condemned the strike.
Hezbollah Leader Nasrallah Killed by Israeli Strike: Quick Looks
- Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah killed in Israeli airstrike on Friday.
- Biden called Nasrallah’s death “a measure of justice” for victims of Hezbollah’s actions.
- Hezbollah confirmed Nasrallah’s death, following the Israeli airstrike in Beirut.
- White House aims to prevent escalation into broader regional conflict.
- Kamala Harris echoed Biden’s comments, calling for diplomacy as the best path forward.
- Strike follows Hezbollah joining Hamas to open a “northern front” against Israel.
- Netanyahu vows to continue operations until displaced Israelis can return home.
- State Department orders nonessential U.S. staff to leave Lebanon amid rising tensions.
Deep Look:
The Israeli strike that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has been described by President Joe Biden as a “measure of justice” for the victims of Hezbollah’s four-decade-long “reign of terror.” Biden’s comments, delivered Saturday, come amid rising tensions across the Middle East and are seen as a significant moment in the escalating conflict between Israel and militant groups in the region.
The announcement of Nasrallah’s death was confirmed earlier on Saturday by Hezbollah, marking a pivotal moment in the Israeli-Lebanese confrontation. Nasrallah, a co-founder of Hezbollah and one of its most prominent figures, was killed during an Israeli airstrike in Beirut on Friday. His death has already been framed as a substantial blow to Hezbollah, a group that has long posed a significant threat to Israel, the United States, and other Western interests.
President Biden contextualized the airstrike as part of a broader response to ongoing hostilities that began after Hamas launched a massacre in Israel on October 7, 2023. Biden noted that, in the aftermath of that attack, Nasrallah made the “fateful decision” to align with Hamas and open a “northern front” against Israel. This move was seen as an attempt to expand the ongoing conflict, prompting a severe Israeli response. Nasrallah had overseen Hezbollah’s operations for decades, targeting not only Israel but also U.S. interests across the Middle East.
During his leadership, Hezbollah was responsible for the deaths of thousands of Israelis, Lebanese, and Americans. The militant group’s most notorious attacks against U.S. interests include the 1983 bombings of the U.S. Embassy and the multinational force barracks in Beirut, resulting in hundreds of casualties. Hezbollah was also behind the abduction of the CIA’s chief of station in Beirut, who later died in captivity. Moreover, Hezbollah armed and trained militias that carried out attacks against American forces during the Iraq War, contributing to the group’s bloody legacy.
The White House and Pentagon were quick to clarify on Friday that Israel did not provide any forewarning of the operation to take out Nasrallah. The Biden administration has sought to walk a delicate line as it navigates Israel’s conflicts with both Hamas and Hezbollah—groups that, despite their differences, are both backed by Iran. The administration has attempted to contain these hostilities, aiming to prevent the situation from escalating into a broader regional war that could destabilize the entire Middle East.
Vice President Kamala Harris echoed Biden’s comments in a statement on Saturday, also referring to Nasrallah’s death as “a measure of justice.” Harris emphasized the importance of diplomacy as the best means to protect civilians and achieve long-term stability in the region. “Diplomacy remains the best path forward to protect civilians and achieve lasting stability in the region,” Harris said, highlighting the administration’s cautious approach even amid continued Israeli strikes.
The confirmation of Nasrallah’s death came during a week when Biden’s top national security aides were actively working on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly to garner international support for a cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah. The 21-day truce proposal was part of a broader strategy to facilitate a similar truce in Gaza, where Israel continues its military campaign against Hamas. However, the cease-fire negotiations have faced significant challenges, and Israel’s operation to eliminate Nasrallah demonstrates a continuing escalation rather than a pause in hostilities.
In a defiant speech at the United Nations on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to keep up operations against Hezbollah until the tens of thousands of Israeli citizens displaced by Hezbollah rocket attacks could return to their homes. Shortly after this speech, Israel carried out the strike that killed Nasrallah. Netanyahu’s remarks underscored Israel’s intent to continue its military actions against Hezbollah, despite international calls for a de-escalation of the conflict.
President Biden reiterated his desire for cease-fires both in Gaza and between Israel and Hezbollah, noting that it is time to end these hostilities and stabilize the region. “It is time for these deals to close, for the threats to Israel to be removed, and for the broader Middle East region to gain greater stability,” Biden stated. His comments reflect the Biden administration’s ongoing efforts to mediate peace and prevent further bloodshed while balancing the strong U.S.-Israel alliance.
In the wake of the strike, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused the United States of complicity in Nasrallah’s killing. Pezeshkian alleged that the U.S. supported Israel’s attack, claiming that the “order of the terrorist strike was issued from New York.” The Iranian president’s statement, broadcast on state television, accused the United States of being a partner to the strike and vowed that the international community would not forget its role. These comments indicate the heightened tensions between Iran and the U.S. and hint at potential further escalations in response to Nasrallah’s death.
The fallout from the strike has also led to heightened security measures. The U.S. State Department ordered the departure of the families of U.S. diplomats who are not employed by the embassy in Beirut and authorized the departure of nonessential staff and their families due to the “volatile and unpredictable security situation” in Lebanon. The State Department has consistently advised U.S. citizens to consider leaving Lebanon, and reiterated on Saturday its warning against all travel to the country. “Due to the increased volatility following airstrikes within Beirut and the volatile and unpredictable security situation throughout Lebanon, the U.S. Embassy urges U.S. citizens to depart Lebanon while commercial options still remain available,” read the official statement.
The ordered departure of embassy families does not amount to a full evacuation, but it does indicate that the security conditions have deteriorated significantly. The situation remains unpredictable, with continued Israeli strikes and potential Hezbollah retaliations creating a volatile atmosphere throughout Lebanon.
President Biden also directed the Pentagon to assess and adjust the U.S. military presence in the region as needed to deter further escalation and ensure the safety of American personnel and allies. The Pentagon, earlier in the week, announced that additional troops would be sent to the Middle East to address the rising tensions. This increase in troop presence is part of a broader strategy to enhance deterrence and provide security to American facilities and personnel amid growing fears of a wider regional war.
Nasrallah’s death marks a significant milestone in Israel’s ongoing confrontation with Hezbollah, as well as the broader conflict involving Hamas in Gaza. Hezbollah’s leader had long been a symbol of the group’s defiance against Israel, and his death represents both a tactical and symbolic victory for Israel. However, the death also raises concerns about what comes next—whether Hezbollah will escalate its attacks, how Iran will react, and the impact on the broader geopolitical landscape of the Middle East.
The Biden administration, balancing its support for Israel with the desire to avoid an all-out regional war, continues to face significant diplomatic challenges. While Biden and Harris have expressed satisfaction at the removal of a key militant figure, their repeated calls for cease-fires underscore the administration’s priority to bring stability back to a region mired in decades of conflict.
The coming weeks will reveal whether this strike prompts Hezbollah to intensify its actions or whether it will weaken the group’s resolve. Either way, the international community will be watching closely, as events in Lebanon, Gaza, and Israel continue to shape the fragile stability of the Middle East.
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