Iran’s supreme leader moved to secure location as he calls on Middle East to support Hezbollah in wake of chief’s death
Iran’s terror-supporting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was moved to a secure location on Saturday, even as he urged the Muslim world to “stand by” Lebanon and Hezbollah following Israel’s killing of Hassan Nasrallah.
Potentially next on Israel’s target list after the deaths of the leaders of both Hezbollah and Hamas — the latter inside Iran in July — Khamenei, 85, was moved to an undisclosed location in Iran with heightened security efforts in place, according to two regional officials briefed by Tehran.
Iran is in constant contact with Hezbollah in Lebanon and other regional proxy groups as it works to determine the next steps following Israel’s announcement that Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah was killed in a strike in Beirut Friday, the source said.
Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and other Hamas officials in Gaza also ceased their movements Saturday as a precautionary measure, the Times of Israel reported, citing the Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya news outlet.
Hezbollah confirmed Nasrallah’s death on Saturday, several hours after the initial IDF report claiming his demise.
In a statement issued Saturday, Khamenei urged Muslims in the region “to stand by the people of Lebanon and the proud Hezbollah with whatever means they have and assist them in confronting the… wicked regime [of Israel].”
“The fate of this region will be determined by the forces of resistance, with Hezbollah at the forefront,” the supreme leader insisted, according to state media reports.
Nasrallah’s killing prompted international concerns about an escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, which has been steadily growing since Hamas’ terror attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
On Saturday, the European Commission and European Union Aviation Safety Agency cautioned airlines to avoid Lebanese and Israeli airspace until at least Oct. 31 due to “an overall intensification of airstrikes and degradation in the security situation.”
Hezbollah responded to the strikes that killed Nasrallah and several other higher-ups in the terror group by launching a volley of rockets into Israel, the Times of Israel reported.
Several rockets fired over the Western Galilee, the West Bank, and the Golan Heights set off warning sirens before being intercepted by air defenses.
Israel also continued its strikes against Lebanon, the IDF confirmed.
Since Friday night, the IDF said it had hit about 140 Hezbollah targets, including dozens of rocket launchers aimed at Israel.
With Post wires
