what to remember from Saturday September 28

Hezbollah has confirmed the death of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in an Israeli strike on the southern suburbs of Beirut (Lebanon).

Hezbollah loses its leader. The Lebanese Islamist movement confirmed, Saturday September 28, the death of Hassan Nasrallah in a strike on the southern suburbs of Beirut (Lebanon), claimed by Israel on Friday. The news caused many countries in the Middle East and the Western world to react: the United States defended “a measure of justice for the many victims” of Hezbollah, while Iran assured that the “glorious line of the leader of the resistance, Hassan Nasrallah, will continue”. Franceinfo takes stock of what to remember from this new day of conflict in the Middle East.

Hezbollah announces the death of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in an Israeli strike

The leader of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in an Israeli strike near Beirut (Lebanon), the Lebanese Islamist movement announced on Saturday. “Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah joined his fellow martyrs (…) whose march he led for nearly thirty years”announced Hezbollah, Iran’s closest ally, Israel’s sworn enemy. He was killed in a devastating Israeli raid late Friday afternoon on the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital, where the Israeli army said it had targeted the Islamist movement’s headquarters.

Benyamin Netanyahu estimated that the elimination of Hassan Nasrallah “advances” the return of the hostages from Gaza. “We are determined to continue striking our enemies”said the Israeli Prime Minister, adding that with the death of the Hezbollah leader, “We have settled our accounts”.

The Israeli army claimed that “elimination” by Hassan Nasrallah made the world “safer”insisting that it would continue to eliminate other commanders of the Islamist movement. “Most of Hezbollah’s senior leaders have been eliminated”also declared an IDF spokesperson. Among them: Ali Karaké, presented as the commander of Hezbollah’s southern front, and other commanders of the movement were killed Friday in the same bombing.

Washington supports Israel, Iran threatens the Jewish state

The death of Hassan Nasrallah sparked reactions from many countries in the Middle East and the Western world. It is “a measure of justice for its many victims, including thousands of American, Israeli and Lebanese civilians”estimated American President Joe Biden.

Conversely, Iran assured that the “glorious line of the leader of the resistance, Hassan Nasrallah, will continue” and announced five days of national mourning. Russia, a close ally of Tehran, condemned the assassination of the Hezbollah leader, saying that Israel would carry “full responsibility” possible consequences “dramatic” in the region. The Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas denounced a “cowardly terrorist act” of Israel.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said “very worried about the dramatic escalation” in Beirut in the last 24 hours. “This cycle of violence must stop now and all parties must step back from the precipice,” he added, while France asked Israel to stop its strikes on Lebanon and said it was opposed to a ground operation.

Yemen’s Houthis claim to have targeted Israel

Yemen’s Houthis claimed to have targeted Ben Gurion Airport in Israel with a missile dubbed “Palestine 2”. The Israeli army earlier announced that it had intercepted a missile fired from Yemen, which triggered warning sirens in central Israel.

The leader of the rebels, supported by Iran, had said earlier that the death of Hassan Nasrallah “will not be in vain”. She “will fan the flame of sacrifice, intensify enthusiasm and strengthen our resolve”also assured the Houthi leaders.

Israeli army carries out new attack on Beirut

The Israeli army announced late Saturday afternoon a new strike on Hezbollah’s stronghold in Beirut. Earlier in the day, the IDF said it had struck more than 140 targets linked to Hezbollah since Friday. She aimed “the Bekaa region [dans l’est du Liban] and different areas of southern Lebanon”specified its press release. More than 50,000 people have fled to Syria due to airstrikes, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said on Saturday.

Hezbollah targets Israeli territory

Hezbollah claimed to have fired rockets into northern Israel on Saturday. The pro-Iranian movement said in a statement that it had targeted Kibbutz Kabri with Fadi-1 rockets in response to the attacks. “barbarians” from Israel “on towns, villages and civilians” in Lebanon.

Bruno Retailleau calls on prefects to “strengthen vigilance” on the occasion of October 7

The new Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, asked the prefects on Saturday to “reinforce vigilance” during the “potential gatherings” organized on the occasion of October 7, one year after the Hamas attack in Israel and the start of the Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip.

Bruno Retailleau called on the prefects to “quickly report upcoming gatherings and mobilizations” and to “adapt security measures in conjunction with intelligence services”he assured on X, while several gatherings are planned in France, notably in Paris or Marseille.