Statement from President Joe Biden on the death of Hassan Nasrallah

Hassan Nasrallah and the terrorist group he led, Hezbollah, were responsible for the killings of hundreds of Americans during their four-decade reign of terror. His death in an Israeli airstrike is a sign of justice for his many victims, including thousands of Americans, Israelis and Lebanese civilians.

The attack that killed Nasrallah took place in the broader context of the conflict that began with the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023. Nasrallah made the fateful decision the next day to join forces with Hamas and open a so-called “Northern Front.” against Israel.

The United States fully supports Israel's right to defend itself against Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and all other Iranian-backed terrorist groups. Just yesterday, I directed my Secretary of Defense to continue to improve the defensive posture of U.S. forces in the Middle East to deter aggression and reduce the risk of a major regional war.

Ultimately, our goal is to de-escalate the ongoing conflicts in both Gaza and Lebanon through diplomatic means. In Gaza, we are seeking a UN Security Council-backed agreement on a ceasefire and the release of hostages. In Lebanon, we negotiated an agreement that would return people safely to their homes in Israel and southern Lebanon. It is time for these agreements to be finalized, for threats to Israel to be eliminated, and for the entire Middle East region to achieve greater stability.

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