On Friday evening, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli strike in the southern suburbs of Beirut, an event that shook the region and sparked strong reactions internationally. US President Joe Biden and his Vice President Kamala Harris called the assassination a “measure of justice” and reiterated their unconditional support for Israel.
Hassan Nasrallah was a “terrorist with American blood on his hands,” Kamala Harris said in a statement.
Joe Biden specified that he had asked the Pentagon the day before to “strengthen the defense system of American military forces in the Middle East” in order to “reduce the risk of a large-scale regional war”.
A targeted Israeli operation
Considered the most powerful man in Lebanon and one of Iran’s main allies in the region, Nasrallah represented a central figure in the fight against Israel. Hezbollah had opened a new front against the Jewish state following the war launched in Gaza in October 2023, after a massive attack by Hamas, a movement also supported by Iran.
Israel, seeking to secure its territory in the face of Hezbollah rocket fire, justified the strike as a necessity to protect its citizens in the north of the country. The Israeli army is continuing its objective of stopping attacks from Lebanon and allowing the return of tens of thousands of residents who fled the border region.
The American reaction: “A terrorist with American blood on his hands”
The death of Hassan Nasrallah was welcomed by the American administration, in particular by the president Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. The latter declared that Nasrallah was “a terrorist with American blood on his hands”, highlighting the role he allegedly played in various anti-American attacks in the Middle East. Harris, the 2024 Democratic presidential candidate, also affirmed her unwavering support for Israel, saying: “I will always support Israel’s right to defend itself against Iran and Iranian-backed terrorist groups like Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis.
Joe Biden also emphasized the need for a diplomatic solution to end the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, while calling for an agreement to allow civilians to return to their homes in Israel and southern Lebanon. .
Risk of escalation in the region
Faced with this situation, the American State Department took precautionary measures by ordering the departure of the families of employees of its embassy in Beirut. He also advised U.S. citizens to leave Lebanon while trade options remain available, citing a “volatile and unpredictable” security situation.
