President Joe Biden said that the death of Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, from an Israeli airstrike was a “measure of justice for his many victims, including thousands of Americans, Israelis, and Lebanese civilians.” He reiterated U.S. support for Israel’s right to defend itself and ordered the deployment of additional U.S. forces to the Middle East to deter aggression by Iran and its militia allies across the region.
But Biden also insisted that diplomacy was the only way to prevent a wider regional war. “In Gaza, we have been pursuing a deal backed by the U.N. Security Council for a ceasefire and the release of hostages. In Lebanon, we have been negotiating a deal that would return people safely to their homes in Israel and southern Lebanon.”
Other world powers criticized Israel’s assassination of Nasrallah, who had led the Lebanese militia and political party for 32 years. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov alleged that Israel was provoking Iran and Hezbollah to drag the United States into a regional war. “I am convinced that bloodshed must be stopped and all terrorist methods of political revenge must be dropped,” he said. China said that it opposed any violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty and “condemns all action that harms innocent civilians and opposes any move that exacerbates conflict.” The following are excerpted statements from U.S. officials as well as other world reaction.
United States
President Joe Biden
Sept. 28, 2024: “Hassan Nasrallah and the terrorist group he led, Hezbollah, were responsible for killing hundreds of Americans over a four-decade reign of terror. His death from an Israeli airstrike is a measure of justice for his many victims, including thousands of Americans, Israelis, and Lebanese civilians.
“The strike that killed Nasrallah took place in the broader context of the conflict that began with Hamas’s massacre on October 7, 2023. Nasrallah, the next day, made the fateful decision to join hands with Hamas and open what he called a “northern front” against Israel.
“The United States fully supports Israel’s right to defend itself against Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and any other Iranian-supported terrorist groups. Just yesterday, I directed my Secretary of Defense to further enhance the defense posture of U.S. military forces in the Middle East region to deter aggression and reduce the risk of a broader regional war.
“Ultimately, our aim is to de-escalate the ongoing conflicts in both Gaza and Lebanon through diplomatic means. In Gaza, we have been pursuing a deal backed by the UN Security Council for a ceasefire and the release of hostages. In Lebanon, we have been negotiating a deal that would return people safely to their homes in Israel and southern Lebanon. It is time for these deals to close, for the threats to Israel to be removed, and for the broader Middle East region to gain greater stability.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken
Sept. 30, 2024: “Hassan Nasrallah was a brutal terrorist whose many victims included Americans, Israelis, civilians in Lebanon, civilians in Syria, and many others as well. During his leadership of Hezbollah, the group terrorized people across the region and prevented Lebanon from fully moving forward as a country.”
“The United States will continue to work with our partners in the region and around the world to advance a diplomatic resolution that provides real security to Israel, to Lebanon, and allows citizens on both sides of the border to return to their homes.”
State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller
Sept. 30, 2024: “I want to make a few points clear. Number one, we support Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorism, and that includes by bringing brutal terrorists such as Hassan Nasrallah to justice. At the same time, we ultimately want to see a diplomatic resolution to conflict in the Middle East that provides long-term security to – for the people of Israel, the people of Lebanon, and the Palestinian people, as well as the broader region. And we will continue to work to advance efforts along those fronts.”
“Certainly I think it is an unalloyed good for the people of Lebanon and the people of the broader region that Hassan Nasrallah is no longer walking the face of this Earth. He is someone who, as I said, held Lebanon’s political governance from moving forward. He is someone who has attacked the civilians of Lebanese – of Lebanon over the years. He is someone who’s attacked, obviously, civilians of Israel, he’s attacked American citizens, and he’s attacked civilians in Syria.
“So it is an unalloyed good for the region and the world that he is no longer with us. But where Lebanon will go from here, I think it is far too early to say. Obviously, we want to see the people of Lebanon able to choose their future and not be held hostage to a terrorist organization.”
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin
Sept. 27, 2024: “The United States was not involved in Israel's operation. We had no advance warning. My call with Minister Gallant took place while Israel's operation was already underway.”
Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder
Sept. 29, 2024: “Secretary Austin has been receiving updates from and providing guidance to his team throughout the weekend on the latest developments in the Middle East. He and DoD leaders remain focused on the protection of U.S. citizens and forces in the region, the defense of Israel, and the de-escalation of the situation through deterrence and diplomacy. Secretary Austin stressed that the United States is determined to prevent Iran and Iranian-backed partners and proxies from exploiting the situation or expanding the conflict. Secretary Austin made clear that should Iran, its partners, or its proxies use this moment to target American personnel or interests in the region, the United States will take every necessary measure to defend our people.
“The United States retains the capability to deploy forces on short notice. The Department of Defense continues to maintain a significant amount of capability in the region and to dynamically adjust our force posture based on the evolving security situation. The Secretary has directed that the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN Carrier Strike Group (CSG) remain in the USCENTCOM theater and that the USS Wasp Amphibious Ready Group / Marine Expeditionary Unit (ARG/MEU) will continue to operate in the Eastern Mediterranean. This afloat posture is complemented by DoD’s elevated fighter and attack squadron presence, including F-22, F-15E, F-16, and A-10 aircraft, and we will further reinforce our defensive air-support capabilities in the coming days.
“The Secretary has also increased the readiness of additional U.S. forces to deploy, elevating our preparedness to respond to various contingencies. And DoD maintains robust and integrated air-defense capabilities across the Middle East, ensuring the protection of U.S. forces operating in the region.”
Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh
Sept. 30, 2024: “So, we've seen the rhetoric coming out of Iran. I think we have to take that seriously. It's something that we're watching incredibly closely, whether it be a response from Iran, from Hezbollah, from the IMG groups, the proxy groups in Iraq and Syria. I think we have to take that rhetoric seriously.
“And that's why you're seeing the decision to bolster our force posture in the region by the president and by the Secretary, because we do take that rhetoric very seriously. And we believe that we have the capability in the region to defend our forces. And of course, if needed, to come to the defense of Israel.”
Germany
Sept. 28, 2024: “The situation poses a serious threat to stability in the region, and the stability of Lebanon, and this never serves the security and interests of Israel.”
Russia
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
Sept. 28, 2024: “That was not the first political murder. You remember the assassination of Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau Ismail Haniyeh in the capital Iran at the funeral of former president of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ebrahim Raisi. That was not just a political murder, but a murder committed with particular cynicism. There was also a strike on the Iranian consulate in Syria that killed Iranian nationals. Now, Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah has been assassinated.
“Many, including myself, think that Israel wants to create a reason to directly involve the United States into this war, hence all these provocations against Iran and Hezbollah. I believe that Iranian leaders have been extremely responsible, and this effort should be adequately considered.
“There are certain parallels with Ukraine here, too. Vladimir Zelensky has been doing everything to provoke direct involvement of NATO countries in the hostilities. Once they are involved, he will step aside and watch what he believes will save him.
“I do not think this is the right course of action. I am convinced that bloodshed must be stopped and all terrorist methods of political revenge must be dropped.”
Foreign Ministry
Sept. 28, 2024: “This is yet another political assassination committed by Israel, and Russia condemns it with great resolve. This forceful action has the potential to entail even more dramatic consequences for Lebanon and the Middle East in general. Israel was definitely aware of this danger. Nevertheless, it took this step and started killing Lebanese citizens, which will almost inevitably provoke a new outburst of violence. Therefore, it bears full responsibility for the ensuing escalation.
“Once again, we are insistently calling on Israel to stop the hostilities immediately. This would make it possible to cease the bloodshed and create conditions for a political and diplomatic settlement. In the current explosive situation, responsible members of the international community must do everything in their power to prevent the region from plunging into a full-scale armed confrontation.”
China
Foreign Ministry
Sept. 29, 2024: China opposes any violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty and urges all parties to prevent the situation from escalating or “even getting out of control.”
China “opposes and condemns all action that harms innocent civilians and opposes any move that exacerbates conflict.”
Iraq
Prime Minister Muhmmad Shia al Sudani
Sept. 28, 2024: “The criminal act that targeted Dahiyeh neighborhood [in southern Beirut] yesterday exposes Israel’s reckless desire to expand the conflict at the expense of regional nations’ security and stability.”
“This aggression has ramped up in the aftermath of the bloody onslaught against Gaza in early October last year, and has recently extended to Lebanon, where indiscriminate killings have claimed the lives of hundreds of innocent people in a matter of few days. Whose interests are served by the expansion of this brutal ferocity?”
Saudi Arabia
Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud
Sept. 28, 2024: “We call upon all parties to show wisdom and to show restraint in order to avoid a true war from breaking out in the region.”
Turkey
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Sept. 28, 2024: “Lebanon and the Lebanese people are the new target of Israel's policy of genocide, occupation and invasion that has been continuing since October 7.
“As a result of Israel's brutal attacks, many Lebanese, including children, have been murdered in the last week.
“No one with a conscience can accept, excuse or justify such a massacre.
“The Israeli government is becoming more and more reckless as it is pampered by the powers that provide arms and ammunition for its massacres; it is defying all humanity, human values and international law.
“Israel's attempts to spread the insane politics it has implemented in Gaza and Ramallah to Lebanon and other countries in the region must now be stopped.
“We call on all structures whose duty is to ensure global peace, stability and security, especially the United Nations Security Council, and all human rights organizations to take swift action.
“We believe that the Islamic world must take a more determined stance against these attacks.”
“As Türkiye, we will continue to stand by the Lebanese people and government in these difficult days.
“I once again condemn Israel's inhumane attacks against Lebanon; I wish Allah's mercy upon all our Lebanese brothers who lost their lives in the attacks and a speedy recovery to the wounded.”
United Nations
Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary General
Sept. 28, 2024: “The Secretary-General is gravely concerned by the dramatic escalation of events in Beirut in the last 24 hours.
“This cycle of violence must stop now, and all sides must step back from the brink. The people of Lebanon, the people of Israel, as well as the wider region, cannot afford an all-out war.
“He urges the parties to recommit to the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) and immediately return to a cessation of hostilities. He also reiterates his call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages held there.”