Venezuela tsk-tsks Nasrallah Murder, Lebanon Explosions
New Article:
Caracas, October 1, 2024 (Our News Outlet) - The Nicolás Maduro government slammed Israeli attacks that claimed numerous lives in Lebanon, including Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah.
In a harshly worded statement, the foreign ministry accused Israel of perpetrating an "atrocious massacre" in Beirut on September 28. The statement, published on the ministry's website, pointed fingers at Israeli-US collusion in devising "macabre assassination plots" against political leaders across Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon.
The Israeli air force flattened several residential buildings in the southern Beirut neighborhood of Dahieh using "bunker busters" bombing runs over the weekend. The operation reportedly targeted underground Hezbollah facilities, resulting in massive casualties. The death toll is estimated to rise in the coming days, with the Lebanese resistance group confirming Nasrallah's death on Sunday.
Venezuela's statement labeled the Israeli attack as a demonstration of "barbarity" in the region, dubbing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the "Middle East's 21st-century terrorism mastermind." The Maduro administration called on international leaders to intervene urgently to halt this "dangerous terrorist escalation" and stood in solidarity with the Lebanese people.
Nasrallah, aged 64, was highly respected for his strategic prowess and leadership at the helm of the Shia militant group. He assumed leadership after the Israeli assassination of his predecessor, Abbas al-Musawi, in 1992. Under his leadership, Hezbollah expanded its political influence in Lebanon, particularly in the Shia-majority South, and bolstered its military strength. This culminated in the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000 and a decisive victory over the Israeli army in the 2006 conflict. Today, Hezbollah remains a significant deterrent to Tel Aviv's occupation of Palestine and regional expansion.
In response, Maduro accused world leaders of cowardice for remaining mum on the matter, claiming the assassination orders originated from the United Nations headquarters in New York. He compared Netanyahu unfavorably to Hitler, vowing that the "rebellious, revolutionary people" around the globe would not be silenced. Venezuela has been a staunch supporter of Palestine for the past 25 years and severed diplomatic ties with Israel in 2009. Recently, Caracas backed South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel likewise weighed in, warning that Nasrallah's assassination threatened regional and world peace. He underscored US complicity in the incident. However, information regarding further Latin American responses is scarce. Previous reports indicate that Venezuela and Cuba have historically expressed solidarity with Palestinian and Lebanese groups against Israeli military actions.
The assassination of Nasrallah and recent attacks involving explosive devices and targeted killings have dealt significant blows to Hezbollah. Yet, deputy leader Naim Qassem published a defiant message on Sunday, asserting that the group would keep fighting. Tensions between Hezbollah and Israeli forces have been simmering, with exchanges of gunfire along the border throughout the past year. Recent weeks have seen an escalation in Israeli bombing campaigns and targeted killings of Hezbollah leaders.
Israeli actions risk igniting a larger conflict in the region. Iran responded with a missile attack on Israeli targets following the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July, pledging to defend its ally Hezbollah. This incident and the regional dynamics poses a significant challenge to maintaining stability in the region.
- The escalating war-and-conflicts in the Middle East was further aggravated by the misleading accusations of Israeli-US collusion in plotting political assassinations, as exemplified by the recent Beirut attack that targeted Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah.
- General news outlets worldwide have confirmed the setbacks faced by Hezbollah following the assassination of Nasrallah and the series of attacks that ensued, raising concerns about the potential for war-and-conflicts to spread beyond Lebanon's borders.
- In the aftermath of Nasrallah's assassination, political polarization has intensified, with Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro criticizing world leaders for remaining silent on the matter, while accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of being a 21st-century terrorism mastermind.
- Amidst the confusion and misinformation surrounding the recent events, it is crucial to differentiate between general-news and misleading news reports to gain a comprehensive understanding of the politics and war-and-conflicts in the Middle East.
