Syria condemns ‘despicable’ Israeli killing of Nasrallah
Israel has shown “through this despicable aggression once again … its barbarism and wanton disregard for all international standards and laws”, Syrian state media quoted its foreign ministry as saying.
Although it rarely claims responsibility, Israel regularly bombs Hezbollah targets in Syria.
After the country’s civil war broke out in 2011, the Syrian government’s survival was made possible with the support of tens of thousands of Iran-backed fighters – including from Hezbollah – on the ground, as well as Russian air power.
In April, an Israeli missile attack killed seven Iranians – including a top commander and his deputy – after it hit Tehran’s consulate in the Syrian capital Damascus.
Russia condemns ‘killing of Palestinian civilians by American weapons’
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says Russia is concerned by the Israeli strikes on Beirut that killed Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah.
Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, Lavrov added such “political killings” had become commonplace. He also denounced Israel’s devastating war on Gaza.
“Everyone who still has a feeling of compassion is outraged that the October tragedy is being used for mass collective punishment of the Palestinians, which turned into an unprecedented humanitarian disaster. The killing of Palestinian civilians by American weapons must be stopped immediately,” said Lavrov.
Well he should know with Russia doing the same to Ukraine...
Iran wants to avoid ‘larger war’ with the United States
Analyst Trita Parsi says Iran’s unwillingness to relieve the military pressure on Hezbollah stems from Tehran’s belief that Israel is seeking a “much larger war”.
“[Iran thinks] the minute the Iranians step in, that larger war would be a reality because the US would also then step in at that point. This is part of the reason why they’re not going in that direction,” Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute, told Al Jazeera.
The new government of President Masoud Pezeshkian is prioritising a policy of “national reconciliation” in the country, he said.
“They recognise clearly the tremendous anger that exists in society against the government for its many failures and for its repression. A war at this moment is not something that in any way, shape or form will move that reconciliation in the right direction,” said Parsi
