By Luis De Jesus
28 Sep 2024, 16:42 PM EDT
US President Joe Biden called the death of Hassan Nasrallah, leader of the Shiite group Hezbollah, “a measure of justice for his many victims, including thousands of American, Israeli and Lebanese civilians.”
In a statement issued by the White House, he reiterated Israel’s right to self-defense and condemned Nasrallah’s role in terrorist acts spanning four decades.
Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli bombing in Lebanon.
“Hassan Nasrallah and the terrorist group he led were responsible for killing hundreds of Americans,” said the Democratic president.
He also noted that the attack that killed Nasrallah occurred in the context of the conflict that began after the Hamas massacre on October 7 of last year in Israel.
He recalled that, one day after that attack, Nasrallah joined the terrorist organization Hamas by opening what he called a “northern front” against Israel.
Israel has the right to defend itself: Biden
The American president also expressed the United States’ full support for Israel’s right to defend itself not only from Hezbollah, but other Iranian-backed terrorist groups, such as Hamas and the Houthis.
He stressed that he has given instructions to the Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, to reinforce the US military presence in the Middle East with the aim of deterring aggression and avoiding a regional escalation.
Biden highlighted his commitment to the diplomatic de-escalation of the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.
The US promotes a ceasefire in Gaza
He explained that the United States is promoting an agreement in the UN Security Council for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages, while negotiating a safe return for displaced people in Israel and southern Lebanon.
The president concluded with the need to close these agreements and eliminate threats to Israel to achieve greater stability in the Middle East, and advocated for solutions that prioritize security and peace in the region.
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