In his first remarks regarding the recent developments in Lebanon, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei refrained from addressing the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Instead, he described Israel as "far too weak to inflict substantial damage on Hezbollah's structure."

On Saturday, September 28, 2024, Khamenei condemned what he termed a "massacre" against Lebanese civilians, criticizing Israel for not learning from its "criminal war" in Gaza. He stated, "The mass killing of women, children, and civilians will not affect the solid foundation of the resistance front."

Khamenei's statement followed the Israeli military's announcement of Nasrallah's death and that of other Hezbollah leaders in airstrikes targeting southern Beirut. While he did not mention Nasrallah specifically, Khamenei accused Israel of "short-sightedness" and "foolish policies," asserting that the Israelis are "far too weak" to pose a serious threat to Hezbollah.

Despite Hezbollah's silence on Nasrallah's fate, Khamenei reaffirmed Iran's support for the group, declaring that "all resistance forces in the region stand by Hezbollah." He emphasized that "the fate of this region will be determined by the forces of resistance, with Hezbollah at the forefront."

In a separate development, Reuters reported that Khamenei has been moved to a secure location within Iran amid heightened security measures. Officials revealed that Iran remains in constant contact with Hezbollah and other allied groups to determine the next steps.

Shortly after the Israeli announcement of Nasrallah's death, Hezbollah confirmed the loss of its leader following a significant strike on its command center in southern Beirut. Israeli military spokesperson Avichai Adraee stated that the operation, based on precise intelligence, targeted Nasrallah and other key figures.

Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi remarked, "This is not the end of our operations... The message is clear: Anyone who threatens Israeli citizens will be targeted."

Following the airstrike on Friday, Israel launched additional raids on southern Beirut and other parts of Lebanon on Saturday, escalating tensions in the region.