Joe Biden reacts to Hezbollah chief Nasrallah's killing: Measure of justice

US President Joe Biden said that Hezbollah, under Hassan Nasrallah's watch, had been responsible for the deaths of thousands of Americans.

In Short

• Israeli airstrike in Beirut kills Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah
• Joe Biden calls Nasrallah's death 'measure of justice', cites American victims
• Says US supports Israel's right to self-defence against Iranian-supported terrorist groups

US President Joe Biden on Saturday called the Israeli strike that killed Hezbollah’s Hassan Nasrallah a “measure of justice” for many victims in his four-decade-long "reign of terror".

Nasrallah, the 64-year-old chief of the Iran-backed terror outfit, was killed following an Israeli strike on Hezbollah's headquarters in southern Lebanon on Friday. The group confirmed his death on Saturday, just hours after the Israeli army announced the killing.

"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," Biden said, according to a statement issued by the White House.

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

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

Biden further noted that he directed the US Secretary of Defence to further enhance the defence posture of US military forces in the Middle East region to deter aggression and reduce the risk of a broader regional war.

"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. In Lebanon, we have been negotiating a deal that would return people safely to their homes in Israel and southern Lebanon," he noted.

Vice President Kamal Harris also echoed Biden and said, “Today, Hezbollah’s victims have a measure of justice”.

However, she noted, “Diplomacy remains the best path forward to protect civilians and achieve lasting stability in the region”, also asserting he has an “unwavering commitment to the security of Israel and will always support Israel’s right to defend itself”.

The death of Nasrallah, who led Hezbollah for over three decades and transformed it into a significant political Islamist militant outfit in the region, represents a major blow to the group. However, Hezbollah has vowed to continue its fight against Israel.