Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared Friday that Iran and its regional allies will not back down from confronting Israel, escalating tensions following recent attacks and assassinations in the region.
Speaking at a rare appearance leading Friday prayers in Tehran, Khamenei called Iran’s recent missile attack on Israel “legal and legitimate,” referring to the strike launched Tuesday in retaliation for the assassination of Hezbollah secretary general Hassan Nasrallah.
“The resistance in the region will not back down even with the killing of its leaders,” Khamenei stated, emphasizing Iran’s commitment to its “Axis of Resistance” which includes Hezbollah, Yemen’s Houthis, and armed groups in Iraq.
The Supreme Leader’s comments come amid reports of an Israeli attack in Beirut targeting Hashem Safieddine, rumored to be Nasrallah’s successor. Israeli officials have not confirmed the operation, and Hezbollah has remained silent on Safieddine’s fate.
Israel has continued its operations against Hezbollah, with the military claiming to have eliminated the group’s communications chief, Mohammad Rashid Sakafi, in a “precise, intelligence-based strike” in Beirut on Thursday.
As tensions rise, U.S. President Joe Biden suggested Israel’s response to Iran’s missile salvo could include strikes on Iranian oil facilities. However, Biden also expressed his belief that an “all-out war” in the Middle East is unlikely.
The ongoing conflict has raised global concerns about potential oil supply disruptions, contributing to a surge in oil prices.
While the United States, European Union, and other allies have called for an immediate 21-day ceasefire in the Israel-Lebanon conflict, the situation remains volatile. Biden indicated that discussions with Israel about response options are ongoing, but stressed, “There is nothing going to happen today.”
Reuters
