Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Thursday, October 24, defended Hezbollah as Lebanon's primary defense against Israel, which has been carrying out extensive strikes across the country since late September. The Israeli military campaign has targeted Hezbollah strongholds, particularly around Beirut, and launched ground incursions into southern Lebanon, with the aim of crippling the group.
Khamenei's endorsement of Hezbollah comes amid rising casualties in Lebanon, where at least 1,552 people have been killed according to AFP sources. The United Nations has reported that approximately 800,000 people have been displaced by the ongoing violence.
"Hezbollah is the strongest defender of Lebanon and the strongest shield against the greed of the Zionist regime, which has long been aiming at the disintegration of Lebanon," Khamenei said in a statement. The Iranian leader's remarks follow Hezbollah's recent confirmation of Hashem Safieddine's death, the expected successor to the group's current leader, Hassan Nasrallah, who was also killed in an Israeli strike.
Khamenei's comments reflect Iran's longstanding foreign policy stance since the 1979 revolution, which includes firm support for the Palestinian cause and a refusal to recognize Israel, which it refers to as a "Zionist entity."
Meanwhile, France has taken steps to provide humanitarian relief. On the same day as Khamenei's statement, an international conference hosted in Paris raised $800 million in aid for Lebanon. French President Emmanuel Macron urged a ceasefire, stating that the war "must end as soon as possible" and urging Hezbollah to halt provocations while reminding Israel that its military achievements in Lebanon may not equate to strategic success.
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