Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has extended his condolences to Lebanon and Hezbollah over the death of the militant group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah. He also expressed his sympathies to the Lebanese government for any civilian casualties resulting from the conflict with Israel, as reported by the Palestinian news agency WAFA.
Hezbollah confirmed the death of Nasrallah following Israel's airstrikes on Beirut, which resulted in the destruction of several buildings in a densely populated suburb. Israel has continued its strikes on what it claims are Hezbollah targets in the capital.
Hassan Nasrallah, a co-founder of Hezbollah, played a significant role in the group's establishment four decades ago with support from Iran. Under his leadership, Hezbollah evolved into one of the most formidable paramilitary forces in the Middle East. Nasrallah was revered by many in Lebanon as both a religious and political figure.
While Hezbollah is viewed as a terrorist organization by much of the Western world, particularly after being implicated in the 1992 attack on the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires and the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center, senior US officials welcomed the news of Nasrallah’s death.
In Lebanon, Hezbollah is officially recognized as a 'resistance' group tasked with countering Israel, which Beirut considers an enemy state. The recent clashes with Israel have been framed by Hezbollah as a show of solidarity with Hamas and the Palestinians in Gaza.
