Prove His Words, Hezbollah Takes Down Israel's Hujani Arena with Missiles and Drones After Khamenei's Death

JAKARTA - The Lebanese-based militant group Hezbollah has stepped down in the latest conflict in the Middle East by attacking Israel, following the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatolllah Ali Khamenei.

Ayatollah Khamenei was killed in an Israeli and US attack on the capital Tehran and a number of other cities in Iran on Saturday.

"The leadership of the resistance has always emphasized that the continuation of Israeli attacks and the killing of our leaders, youth, and people gives us the right to defend ourselves and retaliate at the right time and place," the group said in a statement, launching Al Arabiya and Reuters (2/3).

Hezbollah said it attacked Israel "in retaliation for the pure blood" of Ali Khamenei, "to defend Lebanon and its people, and in response to Israel's repeated attacks."

The missile launched from Lebanon caused sirens to sound in several areas in northern Israel, the first launch from Lebanese territory since the start of the US and Israeli attacks on Iran.

As previously reported, Israel and the United States launched an attack on the capital Tehran and a number of cities in Iran on Saturday.

Quoted from ABC, the United States dubbed the operation "Operation Epic Fury" while Israel called it "Operation Roaring Lion."

Last week, Hezbollah said the group would not intervene militarily if there was a limited US attack on Iran, but would consider any attack on Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei a "red line."

"If there is a limited US attack on Iran, Hezbollah's position is not to intervene militarily," a Hezbollah official said on condition of anonymity to AFP as quoted by Al Arabiya.

However, the group stressed that if the United States tried to "provoke the fall of the Iranian regime or target the supreme leader, Hezbollah would intervene," he added.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military quickly launched an attack on Hezbollah targets across the country, including on the southern outskirts of Beirut.

Meanwhile, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said the launch of projectiles from southern Lebanon was an "irresponsible" and "suspicious" act that endangered Lebanon's security.

It is known that Israel and Lebanon agreed to a US-mediated ceasefire in 2024, ending more than a year of fighting between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah that culminated in an Israeli offensive that severely weakened the Iran-backed group. Since then, the two sides have accused each other of violations.

Hezbollah, long one of Tehran's main allies in the Middle East, expressed solidarity with Iran on Saturday but did not say whether it would be involved.