Iran, Lebanon declare mourning for Hezbollah leader

The Iranian government has declared a five-day mourning period in honour of Secretary-General of the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli strike on September 27.

 “The government of the Islamic Republic of Iran condemns the criminal and brutal attack by the Israeli regime, which resulted in the martyrdom of Hassan Nasrallah. From September 29 onward, a nationwide five-day mourning period will be observed across the country,” the government said, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.  

Earlier, Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref expressed the view that the death of the Hezbollah leader would lead to the "destruction" of Israel.  

He added that Tehran will continue supporting the forces of Islamic resistance, which include the Palestinian movement Hamas, Hezbollah, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, and the Yemeni rebel group Ansar Allah (Houthis).  

The Lebanese government also declared a three-day mourning period following the death of Nasrallah.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced this decision after an emergency meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, urging citizens to stand in solidarity amid the looming threat facing the country.

“We must respond to this challenge with full responsibility and set aside our political disagreements. Our unity is our strongest weapon against Israel,” Mikati stated. 

The prime minister emphasised that the government is doing its best to confront the hateful and destructive war that Israel is waging against Lebanon.  

"We call on the international community to stop Israeli aggression and compel Israel to adhere to UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the conflict in 2006," he stressed.   Mikati urged citizens to rally around the Lebanese Army and security forces during these challenging periods.  

"The government asserts that the Lebanese Army plays a vital role in protecting the nation's borders, unity, and legitimacy," the prime minister stated.  

On September 28, the Israel Defense Forces announced that Nasrallah had been killed in an Israeli airstrike on the southern suburbs of Beirut.   The strike occurred on September 27 during a meeting of Hezbollah's leadership. On September 28, the group confirmed the death of its leader and vowed to continue its resistance against Israel.

By Naila Huseynova