Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 28 September 2024 Iran has stepped up security along with reports indicating that it has moved Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to a safe location within the country following declarations from Tel Aviv that it had killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah with an airstrike on southern Beirut last week. These increased security measures come after Tehran carries out emergency talks with Hezbollah and other regional proxy groups to weigh its options.
It is a new chapter in an old conflict:
The death of Nasrallah raises the stakes in the long-standing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed group deeply entrenched in Lebanon’s political and military scene. Nasrallah has been the face of Hezbollah’s resistance against the Israeli army and commander in chief of the organization for decades.
Regional Tensions Rise
The killing of Nasrallah has escalated tensions throughout the Middle East region, with threats that Hezbollah and similar Iran-backed militias in the region will respond through attacks. Israel continues to keep a tight stranglehold over Lebanese airspace as its operations against Hezbollah targets continue.
Though Hezbollah has not confirmed that the whole lot is dead, Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, continued to state the necessity to continue military operations against Hezbollah. Even with threats of de-escalation by international allies such as the United States, Israel seems not to back down on its military campaign in southern Lebanon.
Tehran Strategic Counteraction
In the capital, officials are said to be weighing their next move with caution, amid expectations that either Iran’s network of proxy forces may retaliate or the country will seek a diplomatic push to win international backing.
Developments in Tehran have also increased security measures throughout Iran, with Ayatollah Khamenei’s decision to move to a safer location suggesting that Tehran views the event as a serious challenge to its authority and is increasing further security measures to protect its leadership. Both Tehran and Beirut are apt to issue public declarations in the near future with their stance vis-a-vis Israel’s operations ongoing in Lebanon.
The threat of further military escalation in Lebanon and other parts of the Middle East continues to exist with developments in this end.