US President Joe Biden Talks About Hezbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah’s Death
US President Joe Biden announced on Friday that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike. Biden stated that Nasrallah and Hezbollah were responsible for the deaths of many Americans, Israelis, and Lebanese civilians over several decades. He described Nasrallah’s death as a measure of justice for his victims.
Biden said, “Hassan Nasrallah and the terrorist group he led, Hezbollah, were responsible for killing hundreds of Americans over a four-decade reign of terror. His death from an Israeli airstrike is a measure of justice for his many victims, including thousands of Americans, Israelis, and Lebanese civilians.”
The strike that killed Nasrallah occurred in the context of the conflict that began with Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023. Nasrallah had decided to join forces with Hamas and open a “northern front” against Israel.
Biden reaffirmed the US commitment to supporting Israel’s right to self-defense against threats from Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and other groups backed by Iran. He said, “The United States fully supports Israel’s right to defend itself against Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and any other Iranian-supported terrorist groups. Just yesterday, I directed my Secretary of Defense to further enhance the defense posture of US military forces in the Middle East region to deter aggression and reduce the risk of a broader regional war.”
Biden also reiterated the administration’s commitment to resolving the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon through diplomatic efforts. He said, “Ultimately, our aim is to de-escalate the ongoing conflicts in both Gaza and Lebanon through diplomatic means. In Gaza, we have been pursuing a deal backed by the UN Security Council for a ceasefire and the release of hostages.”
He added, “In Lebanon, we have been negotiating a deal that would return people safely to their homes in Israel and southern Lebanon. It is time for these deals to close, for the threats to Israel to be removed, and for the broader Middle East region to gain greater stability.”
A day before, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the killing of Hassan Nasrallah in airstrikes carried out by the Israeli military in Beirut. The IDF stated, “Hassan Nasrallah will no longer be able to terrorize the world.” Alongside Nasrallah, the commander of Hezbollah’s Southern Front, Ali Karaki, and other commanders were also killed. Nasrallah was targeted at Hezbollah’s main headquarters in the southern suburbs of Beirut, known as the Dahiyeh, which is a Hezbollah stronghold.
The Israeli military said, “The strike was carried out while the top brass of Hezbollah were at their headquarters and engaged in coordinating terror activities against the citizens of the State of Israel.”
Doubts Revealed
US President -: The US President is the leader of the United States, a country in North America. Right now, the President is Joe Biden.
Joe Biden -: Joe Biden is the current President of the United States. He is like the Prime Minister of India but for the US.
Hezbollah -: Hezbollah is a group in Lebanon that has its own army and is involved in politics. Some countries consider it a terrorist group.
Hassan Nasrallah -: Hassan Nasrallah was the leader of Hezbollah. He was an important figure in Lebanon and known for his strong views against Israel.
Israeli airstrike -: An Israeli airstrike is when Israel uses its airplanes to attack targets from the air. This can happen during conflicts or wars.
Lebanese civilians -: Lebanese civilians are regular people who live in Lebanon, a country in the Middle East.
self-defense -: Self-defense means protecting oneself from harm. In this context, it means Israel’s right to protect itself from attacks.
diplomatic efforts -: Diplomatic efforts are actions taken by countries to solve problems through talking and negotiation instead of fighting.
Gaza -: Gaza is a small region near Israel and Egypt. It is often in the news because of conflicts between Israel and groups living there.
Israeli Defense Forces -: The Israeli Defense Forces, or IDF, are the military forces of Israel. They protect the country and sometimes engage in conflicts.
Beirut -: Beirut is the capital city of Lebanon. It is a very important city in the country.
