Additional Coverage:
Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech at the UN in New York was a ploy to mislead Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, according to an Israeli official. The speech was part of a "diversionary plan" to make Nasrallah feel secure while Israel planned an attack.
The strike on Beirut that killed Nasrallah was approved by Netanyahu before his speech. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) targeted Hezbollah’s central headquarters, killing senior commanders. Hezbollah later confirmed Nasrallah’s death and vowed to continue fighting Israel.
President Biden supported Israel’s right to defend itself against Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed groups. However, he urged diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the conflict in Gaza and Lebanon. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, condemned Nasrallah’s killing and has been moved to a secure location amid heightened security measures in Iran.