In pictures: Mourning for Hezbollah leader Nasrallah in Tehran
A woman holding an image of late Iranian military commander General Qassem Soleimani, in Tehran, Iran September 28, 2024.Gathering in Tehran to mourn Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah's death, September 28, 2024.People gather to mourn following the announcement of the death of Lebanon's Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, in Tehran, Iran September 28, 2024. Crowds gather to mourn the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, September 28, 2024, Tehran, Iran.
The Israeli military has released an image of Hezbollah's military command network in Lebanon, showing the commanders who have been killed. In this image, only the commander of the Bader Unit, named 'Abu Ali Rida,' is still alive.
The IDF's Persian-language X account shared this image and wrote: "The Israeli army is destroying Hezbollah's military leadership in an unprecedented blow to this terrorist organization."
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, in a phone call with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant , "expressed full support for Israel's right to defend itself against Iran-backed terrorist groups." He also stated that the US remains positioned to protect its forces and facilities in the region and is committed to Israel's defense.
Mehran Kamrava, professor of government at Georgetown University in Qatar, told Reuters that there is a complex mix of emotions in the region’s Arab capitals following the recent developments. "There's a mixture of apprehension and also a hidden sense of joy," he explained, noting that none of the conservative Arab states have been particularly supportive of Hezbollah. He observed that while some regional leaders are uneasy about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s expansion of the war, there is also "some relief that Hassan Nasrallah has been removed."
Kamrava added that Iran is unlikely to act immediately even in the face of this significant loss. "Tehran has a doctrine called strategic patience, whereby they play the long game," he said, suggesting that this doctrine will persist and that Iran is reluctant to engage Israel in any direct confrontation.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant, in a message, said Israel "eliminated" the leader of Hezbollah, adding that Nasrallah "was the murderer of thousands of Israelis and foreign citizens. He was an immediate threat to the lives of thousands of Israelis and other citizens."