Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, said that Tehran and its regional allies would not back down in the wake of an Israeli attack in Beirut that was thought to target the next in line following Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah. This was a major uptick since Iran launched missiles at Israel on Tuesday, partially in retaliation for the death of Nasrallah. Oil prices have increased due to the possibility of strikes on Iran’s oil facilities, for which Israel has threatened reprisal.
At Tehran’s Friday prayers, Khamenei stressed that the resistance in the region would not falter even if its leaders were killed. He described Hezbollah’s efforts against Israel as “lawful and legitimate.” While not directly threatening Israel or the United States, he emphasized that Iran would not back down or behave rashly when confronting Israel.
Targeting of Hezbollah Leadership Amid Ongoing Strikes
Iran would strike Israeli energy infrastructure in the event of an Israeli attack, stated Ali Fadavi, the deputy commander of the Revolutionary Guards. The whereabouts of Nasrallah’s presumed successor, Hashem Safieddine, are unclear in this intensified rhetoric. Though no proof has been provided, Israeli officials said he was the target of an underground bunker in Beirut. Hezbollah and the Israeli military have not commented on Safieddine’s situation, even though his brother was present during Khamenei’s speech in Tehran.
Israeli bombings have become more frequent targets for hospitals and rescue personnel. Nine Hezbollah-affiliated workers were killed on strike on Wednesday, and other strikes on Friday affected rescue workers and the area around a hospital in Marjayoun, necessitating the evacuation of medical personnel. Despite Israel’s allegations, Hezbollah disputes that it is hiding among civilians.
Diplomatic Efforts and Rising Tensions in Lebanon
Abbas Araqchi, Iran’s foreign minister, met with leaders of Lebanon in Beirut, reaffirming Tehran’s support for the Shia population in Lebanon and endorsing moves toward a ceasefire, subject to Hezbollah’s agreement. Israel has announced the exact hit that killed Mohammad Rashid Sakafi, the chief of Hezbollah’s communication networks, as part of its ongoing campaign to undermine the organization’s leadership.
Global oil prices surged after U.S. President Joe Biden made threats about possible Israeli retribution against Iran’s oil facilities. Despite growing calls for a truce, the fighting has killed close to 2,000 people and displaced over 1.2 million Lebanese in the last year, with shelters quickly filling up as people flee Israeli attacks.