BEIRUT, Oct 4: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivered a defiant and rare public address on Friday, vowing that Iran’s regional allies would persist in their fight against Israel, underscoring his country’s missile strike as part of this ongoing resistance. Speaking in Tehran, with a rifle symbolically placed by his side, Khamenei’s sermon, his first in five years, was delivered to thousands of supporters. The address took place in the wake of Iran’s missile attack on Israel, marking the second such incident and escalating tensions that have already engulfed Lebanon in conflict.
In a rare show of public oratory, Khamenei lauded the 2023 Hamas-led “Al-Aqsa Flood” attacks on Israel, describing them as “logical and legal” while reaffirming that resistance forces in the region would not be swayed by recent losses of key militant leaders. Despite Israel’s targeted airstrikes that have killed numerous Hezbollah commanders and Iranian military figures, including Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, Khamenei assured his audience that these martyrdoms would only fuel the resistance’s resolve.
The missile strikes and intensifying cross-border violence have exacerbated an already dire situation in Lebanon. With over 1,000 people killed and hundreds of thousands displaced due to Israeli strikes on Hezbollah strongholds, Lebanon is facing a humanitarian crisis. Civilians fear prolonged violence, and the recent closure of the vital Masnaa border crossing to Syria, hit by Israeli airstrikes, has further trapped many within the country.
Israel, meanwhile, has declared its focus on bolstering border security with Lebanon amid rising tensions with Hezbollah. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant warned that those attacking Israel would “pay a heavy price,” hinting at potential future retaliation. Iran, for its part, has pledged to escalate its response should Israel proceed with counterattacks.
The violence, which originated with Hezbollah’s escalated attacks from Lebanon and Hamas’s initial assault from Gaza, now threatens to engulf the entire region. Despite the calls for restraint from international leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden, the path to de-escalation remains unclear. As the cycle of violence spirals, civilians in both Lebanon and Israel brace for further confrontations, with fears that the conflict may expand into a broader Middle Eastern war.