what are the reactions to the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, killed by an Israeli bombing?

The emblematic leader of the Lebanese Islamist group was killed on Friday in Beirut. Many countries in the region condemn Israel, while the international community warns of a conflagration.

Screams, women crying while beating their chests, small groups of individuals with their eyes glued to their phones… The atmosphere became tense in certain neighborhoods of Beirut (Lebanon) at the announcement of the death by Hassan Nasrallah. The powerful leader of Hezbollah was killed by an Israeli strike on Friday on the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital, the Shiite movement confirmed on Saturday September 28, after a claim from Israel. The news caused an explosion throughout the Arab world, and the chancelleries were quick to react.

In Iran, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei declared five days of national mourning. “The glorious line of the leader of the resistance, Hassan Nasrallah, will continue and his sacred objective will be achieved with the liberation of Quds [Jérusalem]“Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said in a message published on. Financed and armed by Iran, Hezbollah was created in 1982 at the initiative of the Revolutionary Guards. The Shiite Islamist movement is also part of what Iran calls the “axis of resistance” against Israel. Iran’s first vice president, Mohammad Reza Aref, also considered that this “unjust bloodshed” would lead to the “destruction” of Israel.

The Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas denounced a “cowardly terrorist act” of Israel. “We condemn in the strongest terms this barbaric Zionist aggression and the targeting of residential buildings”Hamas, supported like Hezbollah by Iran, detailed in a press release. Yemen’s Houthi rebels, for their part, said the death of Hassan Nasrallah would lead to “victory and the disappearance of the Israeli enemy”. On Saturday afternoon, the Israeli army announced that it had intercepted a missile fired from Yemen.

“The martyrdom of (…) Hassan Nasrallah will fan the flame of sacrifice, intensify enthusiasm and strengthen our resolve.”

Houthi leaders

in a press release

The Iraqi Prime Minister also reacted to the assassination of the leader of the Islamist movement. The Israeli strike is a “shameful attack” And “a crime which shows that the Zionist entity has crossed all the red lines”said Mohamed Chia al-Soudani. The presidency of the Palestinian Authority also “presented its sincere condolences to the Lebanese government and the brotherly Lebanese people”. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has not directly commented on the death of the Hezbollah leader, but he accused Israel on Saturday of preparing a “genocide” in Lebanon, denouncing “brutal attacks” targeting Hezbollah.

Russia, an ally of Iran, in turn condemned “firmly” the assassination by Israel of the leader of the pro-Iranian Hezbollah movement. The Russian Foreign Ministry denounced in a press release “a new political assassination committed by Israel”. Russian diplomacy affirms that Israel carries “full responsibility” consequences “dramatic” that the event could bring to the region. “We urge Israel to immediately cease hostilities” For “end the bloodshed”added Moscow.

For its part, taking responsibility for its operation, Israel believes that Hassan Nasrallah “deserved to be killed” and that it is “a good thing he was.”. “The elimination of arch-terrorist Nasrallah is one of the most justified anti-terrorism measures ever taken by Israel”writes Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz on his account. The spokesperson for the Israeli army, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, also estimated that “elimination” of the leader of Hezbollah made the world “safer”and insisted that his country would continue to kill other commanders of the armed Islamist movement.

“Nasrallah was one of the greatest enemies of the State of Israel of all time.”

Daniel Hagari, Israeli army spokesperson

The international community, for its part, calls for an end to the fighting. “This cycle of violence must stop now and all parties must step back from the brink. The people of Lebanon, the people of Israel, and the wider region, cannot endure all-out war.”insisted the Secretary General of the UN, Antonio Guterres.

In France, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said “in conjunction with the Lebanese authorities and France’s partners in the region to prevent any destabilization and conflagration.” “Messages have been sent to all parties”continued the Quai d’Orsay. The Prime Minister, Michel Barnier, described“extremely serious” the situation in Lebanon, and affirmed “concern about safety” French people on site. Same story on the Berlin side: “There is a risk of destabilization for the whole of Lebanon. And this is in no way in the security interests of Israel”said German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.

Cautiously, European authorities are adapting their instructions and are now recommending that airlines avoid the airspace of Lebanon and Israel due to a “intensification of airstrikes and a deterioration of the security situation”. This recommendation is, at this stage, “valid until October 31” but could be “revised, adapted or removed based on evaluation” of the situation.