Biden calls Hezbollah chief Nasrallah's death 'measure of justice', reiterates US support to Israel

United States President Joe Biden, on Saturday (Sep 28) called the death of Hezbollah chief a "measure of justice", stressing that the Lebanon-based militant group is responsible for killing hundreds of Americans under Hassan Nasrallah’s four-decade reign of terror.

Hezbollah, on Saturday, confirmed that the militant group's chief was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut, a day earlier.

"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," said Biden in a statement releasedby the White House.

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"The strike that killed Nasrallah took place in the broader context of the conflict that began with Hamas’s massacre on October 7, 2023. Nasrallah, the next day, made the fateful decision to join hands with Hamas and open what he called a 'northern front'against Israel," headded.

Biden reiterated Washington's support to Israel for its right to defend itself against Hezbollah, Palestinian militant groupHamas, the Yemen-based Houthis, and any other Iranian-supported terrorist groups.

"The United States fully supports Israel’s right to defend itself against Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and any other Iranian-supported terrorist groups," the statement read.

On Friday, the US president said he directed his secretary of defence to further enhance Americanmilitary forces' defence posture in the Middle Eastto deter aggression and reduce the risk of a broader regional war.

Watch |IDF claims Hezbollah chief Nasrallah 'eliminated' in Beirut strike

The US is aiming tode-escalate the ongoing conflicts in both Gaza and Lebanon "through diplomatic means," Biden said. He added, that in Gaza Washington has beenpursuing a dealbacked by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for a ceasefire and the release of hostages.

Meanwhile, in Lebanon, the Biden administration has 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," the US presidentsaid.

(With inputs from agencies)