Hezbollah: US political leaders unite in support of Israel following Nasrallah's death

U.S. political leaders have rallied behind Israel after the assassination of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in a massive Israeli airstrike that devastated parts of Beirut.

President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson have all voiced their backing for the attack, which has drawn international concern over the anticipated civilian casualties. Notably, former President Donald Trump has yet to comment on the killing.

“Hassan Nasrallah and the terrorist group he led, Hezbollah, were responsible for killing hundreds of Americans over a four-decade reign of terror,” Biden stated in a release on Saturday. “His death from an Israeli air strike is a measure of justice for his many victims, including thousands of Americans, Israelis, and Lebanese civilians.”

While the Biden administration has called for a de-escalation of tensions in the region, it has shown little inclination to use diplomatic leverage, such as suspending arms sales to Israel, despite a recent escalation of attacks in Lebanon. Israel, for its part, has dismissed calls for diplomatic solutions, vowing to continue its military operations.

“President Biden and I do not want to see conflict in the Middle East escalate into a broader regional war,” Vice President Kamala Harris remarked in a statement. “Diplomacy remains the best path forward to protect civilians and achieve lasting stability in the region.”

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The airstrikes have already resulted in significant civilian casualties, with reports indicating at least 1,030 deaths in Lebanon since mid-September, including 56 women and 87 children. The full impact of the strikes that killed Nasrallah and leveled multiple residential buildings is still being assessed, as rescue workers sift through the rubble in search of survivors.

The death of Nasrallah, following the recent killings of other senior Hezbollah officials, deals a serious blow to the Lebanese group and its network of Iran-backed allies throughout the region. Analysts are closely monitoring how Hezbollah and its allies, including Iran-backed militias in Iraq and the Houthis in Yemen, might respond to this significant development.

In a phone call on Friday, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin assured Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant that the U.S. “remains postured to protect U.S. forces and facilities in the region and is committed to the defense of Israel.”

However, the Biden administration faces mounting criticism from activists and analysts who argue that its unconditional support for Israel contributes to a cycle of escalation that has led to substantial civilian casualties and potential violations of international law. In the absence of a firm response from Trump, conservative lawmakers have urged the Biden administration to abandon calls for a ceasefire and to enhance support for Israel’s military actions in both Lebanon and Gaza.

“We call on the Biden-Harris Administration to end its counter-productive calls for a ceasefire and its ongoing diplomatic pressure campaign against Israel,” Johnson stated emphatically on Saturday. As the situation continues to unfold, the global community watches closely for the potential ramifications of these developments in the volatile Middle East.