Thousands of Iranians took to the streets on Saturday, demanding revenge for the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah by Israel. Protesters rallied in Tehran and across the country, condemning Israel’s offensive against Lebanon.
Israel targeted the Iran-backed terror group’s headquarters in southern Beirut on Friday, leading to Hezbollah’s confirmation of Nasrallah’s death shortly thereafter. Following this announcement, gunfire erupted in Beirut and other areas of Lebanon. Many protesters claimed Nasrallah was specifically targeted due to his support for the ongoing war in Gaza.
“Wish it was our kids, not you, Sayyid!” one woman was quoted saying in Baabda city. The protests began on Friday night at Tehran’s Palestine Square, where crowds chanted slogans like “Revenge,” “Down with Israel,” and “Down with the US.” Some demonstrators were reportedly seen waving rifles during the protest.
Protesters waved portraits of Nasrallah alongside Palestinian and Hezbollah flags, burning Israeli and US flags while chanting, “Israel is destroyed, Lebanon is victorious.”
The demonstrations followed a call from Iranian authorities urging citizens to take to the streets “to condemn the barbaric crimes of the Zionist regime in Palestine.” Local broadcasts showed protests in various Iranian cities, including Semnan, Qom, Kashan, Kermanshah, Shiraz, and Bandar Abbas. Demonstrations also erupted in Yemen’s Houthi-controlled capital, Sanaa.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called on Muslims “to stand by the people of Lebanon and the proud Hezbollah.” He urged them to assist in “confronting the wicked regime” of Israel, stating, “The fate of this region will be determined by the forces of resistance, with Hezbollah at the forefront.”
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has dramatically escalated in recent weeks, particularly after Hezbollah accused Israel of destroying thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies used by the terror group. More than 800 people have been killed, with many displaced, as both Hezbollah and Israel vow to continue the fight.
