Iran Supreme Leader Slams 'Criminal' Israel After Nasrallah's Death: 'Too Weak To Inflict Damage On Hezbollah'

Khamenei's statement came amid reports of him being moved to a secure place after Israel announced the "elimination" of Hezbollah's chief Hassan Nasrallah in an airstrike on Beirut.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a statement on Saturday calling Israel's policy of "massacring the people in Lebanon" as "short-sighted and stupid". He stressed that the "Zionist criminals" were "far too weak to inflict damage on Hezbollah". He also urged Muslims to stand with the people of Lebanon and its military group Hezbollah against the "malicious Zionist regime".

The statement came amid reports of Khamenei being moved to a secure place after Israel announced the "elimination" of Hezbollah's chief Hassan Nasrallah in an airstrike on Beirut.

 "The Zionist criminals need to know that they are far too weak to be able to inflict any significant damage on the solid structure of Lebanon’s Hezbollah," he said in his statement that was posted on X.

"It is an obligation for all Muslims to stand with the people of Lebanon and the honorable Hezbollah, offering their resources and assistance as Hezbollah confronts the usurping, cruel, malicious Zionist regime," he added.

Khamenei deplored Nasrallah's death, who he said attained "martyrdom" on Friday night in Lebanon. "The great Mujahid, the standard-bearer of Resistance in the region, a virtuous scholar of religion &  a wise political leader - Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah (may God be pleased with him) - achieved martyrdom in last night's tragic events in Lebanon & has ascended to the the heavens," he wrote on X.

In an apparent reference to Israel, he also stated that "Zionists" had not learnt anything from the year-long "criminal war" in Gaza, and that killing people cannot weaken the resistance.

"On one hand, the killing of defenseless civilians in Lebanon, has once again revealed the savage nature of the rabid Zionists to everyone. On the other hand, it has proven how shortsighted and insane the policies of the leaders of the occupying regime are," he said.

"The terrorist gang ruling Zionist regime hasn’t learned from its 1yr criminal war in Gaza & doesn’t understand the massacre of women, children, & civilians cannot hurt strong structure of Resistance or bring it to its knees. Now they’re testing the same absurd policy in Lebanon," Khamenei said in his statement.

He further underscored that all the "resistance forces" in the region stand in Hezbollah's support and will determine the fate of the region, with the military group at the forefront.

"All the Resistance forces in the region stand with and support. The Resistance forces will determine the fate of this region with the honorable Hezbollah leading the way. The Lebanese haven’t forgotten there was a time when the soldiers of the occupying regime were advancing toward Beirut, & Hezbollah stopped them & made Lebanon proud. Today too, by the grace & power of God, Lebanon will make the transgressing, malicious enemy regret its actions," the Iran's Supreme leader said.

Khamenei had called an emergency meeting of Iran's Supreme National Security Council at his home on Friday after Nasrallah's death. He was killed in a targeted airstrike by Israel in south Beirut on Friday.