On September 28, 2023, President Joe Biden characterized the Israeli airstrike that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah as an “act of justice,” linking it to Hezbollah’s long history of violence and its alliance with Hamas amidst escalating conflict following Hamas’s attacks on Israel.
The White House viewed Nasrallah’s death as a major blow to Hezbollah while also emphasizing the need to prevent the conflict from expanding regionally, with Vice President Kamala Harris advocating for diplomatic solutions. Amidst these tensions, Biden’s administration is pushing for a 21-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah and reaffirming support for ceasefire discussions in Gaza.
In response to the airstrike, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused the U.S. of complicity in Nasrallah’s death, highlighting the fraught relations between the U.S. and Iran regarding regional security.
Key Concepts
- President Biden described the Israeli airstrike that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah as an “act of justice.”
- The operation against Nasrallah was framed as a response to Hezbollah’s long history of violence.
- Biden emphasized Hezbollah’s alliance with Hamas and the opening of a “northern front” against Israel.
- The White House views Nasrallah’s death as a significant setback for Hezbollah.
- Both the White House and Pentagon stated that Israel had no prior warning about the airstrike.
- Vice President Kamala Harris advocated for diplomacy to prevent the conflict from escalating into a broader regional war.
- Biden’s national security team is working to support a 21-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
- Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to military action against Hezbollah.
- Biden reiterated his support for a ceasefire in both Gaza and the Israel-Hezbollah conflict.
- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused the U.S. of complicity in Nasrallah’s killing and asserted U.S. responsibility for orchestrating attacks.
U.S. President Joe Biden said on Saturday (September 28) that the Israeli strike that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was an “act of justice” for the victims of four decades of “reign of terror.”
Lebanon’s Hezbollah confirmed earlier on Saturday that Nasrallah, one of the group’s founders, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut the day before.
Biden said the operation to remove Nasrallah was carried out in the broader context of the conflict that began with Hamas’s massacre of Israelis on October 7, 2023.
“Nasrallah made the momentous decision the next day to join forces with Hamas and open up a ‘northern front’ against Israel,” Biden said in a statement.
He also said that Hezbollah, led by Nasrallah, was responsible for the deaths of thousands of Americans, Israelis and Lebanese.
Hezbollah’s attacks on U.S. interests include the 1983 truck bomb attack on the U.S. Embassy in Beirut and the Multinational Force barracks, and the kidnapping of the CIA station chief in Beirut, who died in custody. The United States says Hezbollah’s leaders armed and trained militias that launched attacks on U.S. troops during the Iraq War.
The White House viewed Nasrallah’s death as a huge blow to the group. At the same time, the administration has sought to tread carefully as it tries to contain Israel’s war with Hamas, which is also backed by Iran, and avoid a full-blown regional conflict.
Soon after the attack, the White House and the Pentagon quickly publicly said Friday that Israel had no advance warning of the action.
“President Biden and I do not want to see the conflict in the Middle East escalate into a broader regional war,” Vice President Kamala Harris said in a statement Saturday that echoed Biden’s description of the “righteous act.” She added that “diplomacy remains the best way to protect civilians and achieve lasting stability in this region.”
The confirmation of Nasrallah’s death came as Biden’s top national security aides worked on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly this week to build support for a 21-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, which they hope will also breathe new life into stalled ceasefire efforts in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a speech at the United Nations on Friday, vowing to continue action against Hezbollah until tens of thousands of Israeli citizens driven away by rocket attacks can return home. Shortly after, Israel launched the attack that killed Nasrallah.
Biden reiterated on Saturday that he wants to see a ceasefire in Gaza and between Israel and Hezbollah.
“It is time to reach these agreements, eliminate the threats facing Israel and bring greater stability to the broader Middle East,” Biden said.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused the United States of supporting the killing of Nasrallah and dozens of others.
Iranian state television quoted Pezeshkian’s statement as saying, “The international community will not forget that the orders for the terrorist attacks came from New York, and the Americans cannot be absolved of responsibility for their complicity with the Zionists.”
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