Why the U.S. is calling Israel’s killing of Hezbollah’s leader ‘justice’ : NPR

The death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli airstrike on Saturday could reshape the Middle East war in ways not yet known. The number of civilian deaths from the strike is likely to rise further. And Lebanese armed groups backed by Iran are known for their resilience and retaliation.

However, many U.S. leaders are united in their support for Israel’s killing of Nasrallah, believing it to be the appropriate action for a longtime decision-maker in an organization that has taken so many innocent lives.

President Biden said Saturday’s death of Iranian-backed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli airstrike was “a measure of justice for his many victims.”

“Hassan Nasrallah and his terrorist organization, Hezbollah, are responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Americans over a 40-year reign of terror,” Biden said. in a statement.

Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson also expressed support for the attack.

Harris called Nasrallah “a terrorist with American blood in his veins” and said his leadership “destabilized the Middle East and led to the murder of countless innocent people in Lebanon, Israel, Syria and around the world.” We were connected,” he said. Today, there is some justice for Hezbollah’s victims. ”

Biden and Harris reiterated their support for Israel’s right to protect itself from Iran and Iranian-backed terrorist groups.

Hezbollah has been involved in several anti-US attacks since the 1980s. Hezbollah was formed in 1982 in response to Israel’s invasion of Lebanon, and three years later pledged allegiance to Iran’s supreme leader and called for Israel’s destruction.

Groups attacking Americans and American interests include: Suicide truck bombings in 1983 and 1984 In Beirut, the U.S. Embassy, ​​the U.S. Marine Corps Barracks, and the U.S. Embassy Annex were targeted. The death toll from these attacks was more than 300 Americans and Lebanese.

In 1985, Transworld Airlines flight hijacked By the alleged Hezbollah member who shot and killed a U.S. Navy diver.

During the Iraq war, Hezbollah members reportedly armed and trained Shiite militias and carried out attacks during U.S. military deployments from 2003 to 2011, according to the report. US Congressional Report It was published last week.

More than 500 Lebanese and 30 Israelis have reportedly been killed in recent fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in the Middle East, according to reports.

Lebanese militant groups and Israel have continued to carry out attacks since the current conflict in the Middle East began nearly a year ago. Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that rules Gaza and is backed by Iran, carried out an attack on Israel on October 7. The attack left about 1,200 Israelis dead and Hamas militants took about 250 hostages. Israel responded with months of attacks in the Gaza Strip, killing more than 40,000 Palestinians.

of 2024 Annual Threat Assessment A statement released by U.S. intelligence agencies said Hezbollah “maintains the ability to target American persons and U.S. interests.” [Middle East] In this region, around the world, and to a lesser extent in the United States. ”