Iran Urges UN to Take Action over Israeli Strike on Hezbollah Leader, US Calls it "Measure of Justice"
The killing of Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in a powerful Israeli airstrike on the southern suburbs of Beirut has prompted a strong reaction from Iran, which has called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to discuss the Israeli military's actions in Lebanon and across the Middle East region.
According to the Israeli military, Nasrallah, 64, was killed in the airstrike on Friday, with Hezbollah confirming his death on Saturday. The Israeli military hailed the killing as a major victory, stating that Nasrallah was "one of the greatest enemies of the State of Israel of all time" and that his elimination makes the world a safer place.
However, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed that the killing of Hezbollah commanders would not bring the group to its knees, and declared public mourning. In a letter to the 15-member UNSC, Iran's UN ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani wrote that Iran will not hesitate to exercise its inherent rights under international law to take every measure in defense of its vital national and security interests.
The US, Israel's top arms supplier, has backed the Israeli strike, with President Joe Biden describing it as a "measure of justice". Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also welcomed the killing, saying that Israel had "settled the score" for the killing of Israelis and citizens of other countries, including Americans.
However, the killing of Nasrallah has raised fears of further escalation in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which began fighting across the Lebanese border after the war in Gaza erupted when Hamas, a Hezbollah ally also backed by Iran, attacked Israeli towns on October 7 last year.
Over 1,000 people have been killed in Israeli attacks on Lebanon in the past two weeks, and the international community is calling for restraint and calm to prevent further escalation. The situation remains volatile, with Iran warning against any attacks on its diplomatic facilities and representatives and threatening to take action to defend its interests.
The United Nations Security Council is set to meet to discuss the situation in Lebanon, with all parties involved likely to demand swift action to address the escalating conflict. The question remains whether the UNSC will be able to achieve a peaceful resolution to the conflict, or whether it will further deteriorate, with serious consequences for regional stability.
As tensions continue to escalate, it remains to be seen how the international community will respond to the situation. One thing is certain, however: the killing of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has raised the stakes in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, and the world is watching closely as events unfold.
