The assassination of Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah exposed the fragility of the group’s security and intelligence structure. It also revealed Israel’s enhanced ability to execute operations in the depth of South Lebanon.
Occurring two months after the assassination of Hamas’ Political Bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, Nasrallah’s killing has elicited a wide array of reactions. The Iraqi government declared a three-day period of national mourning, with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shia Al-Sudani condemning the assassination as “a heinous crime and a flagrant assault, exemplifying the Zionist entity’s disregard for all red lines.”
The Grand Mufti of Oman Sheikh Ahmed Al-Khalili expressed deep sorrow over the death of Nasrallah, describing him as “a thorn in the side of the Zionist project for over three decades.” He called for “bolstering resistance in Lebanon and Palestine and the unity of Muslims under a common cause.”
In Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the Israeli attacks on Lebanon, urging the international community to adopt a firm stance on such violations. Meanwhile, Morocco’s opposition Justice and Development Party mourned Nasrallah, honouring him in a statement as a “martyr.”
Moscow too condemned Nasrallah’s assassination. The Russian Foreign Ministry denounced the act as “a new political assassination committed by Israel,” holding Israel “fully responsible for the grave consequences that may arise in the region” as a result of it.
China, for its part, expressed its opposition to the assassination. The Chinese Foreign Ministry condemned the violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty and security, stressing its opposition to actions that harm innocent civilians or escalate regional tensions. The ministry expressed Beijing’s concern over the growing instability and called on “all parties, particularly Israel, to take immediate measures to de-escalate and prevent the conflict from spiralling out of control.”
Several South American nations voiced their condemnation of Israel’s assassination of Hizbullah’s secretary-general, such as Cuba, where President Miguel Díaz-Canel described the act as a “cowardly.”
Washington’s response diverged sharply. The US, which designates Hizbullah a terrorist organisation, framed the assassination as “an act that achieves justice.” In an official statement, it reaffirmed its full support for Israel’s “right to defend itself” against groups such as Hizbullah, Hamas, the Houthis, and other Iran-backed factions. President Joe Biden said that Nasrallah’s killing was “justice for his many victims, including thousands of American, Israeli, and Lebanese civilians.”
In contrast, European reactions were notably restrained. European countries neither condemned nor fully endorsed the assassination, calling instead for an immediate ceasefire and stressing the importance of preventing the conflict from escalating. They expressed concern over the potential regional fallout from continuing violence.
While Nasrallah’s assassination exposed the divide in opinion across the globe regarding Israel’s practices, it is evident this operation will yield negative repercussions and create further instability as long as Israel continues to adopt violence and avoid dialogue.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 3 October, 2024 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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