Biden Calls Killing of Hezbollah Leader a “Measure of Justice” Amid Regional Tensions

President Joe Biden recently addressed the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, describing it as a “measure of justice” for his numerous victims. This statement came following an Israeli airstrike in Beirut that resulted in Nasrallah’s death, which Hezbollah confirmed on September 28, 2024. In his remarks, Biden emphasized that Nasrallah had been responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Americans and thousands of Israelis and Lebanese over a four-decade period marked by terror and violence

The background of Biden’s remarks was the rising tensions in the area, especially following Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. He pointed out that, just before his passing, Nasrallah had sided with Hamas and announced the formation of a “northern front” against Israel. The U.S. administration expresses concern about the possibility of more regional war resulting from this incident, but it also sees this operation as a major blow to Hezbollah.

In the midst of continuous hostilities in Lebanon, the Israeli military was conducting a larger operation that included the attack that killed Nasrallah and targeted Hezbollah commanders. There are already a lot of deaths from the strikes, including civilians, which is concerning for humanitarian reasons as well as the possibility that the conflict might escalate into something larger. In addition to reiterating his support for Israel’s right to self-defence against threats from organisations like Hezbollah and Hamas, Biden reaffirmed his commitment to diplomatic initiatives aimed at reducing tensions.

Following Nasrallah’s passing, there have been varied reactions around the Middle East; in Israel, there have been celebrations, while in Iran and among Hezbollah followers, there has been fury. Iranian authorities denounced the attack as an aggressive act and called it a “war crime,” while Hezbollah lamented Nasrallah as a martyr whose memory will live on.