Iran Responds to Israeli Strikes on Hezbollah

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has intensified following recent Israeli airstrikes, which have resulted in the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and significant losses for the group. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears to be confident that Iran, led by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, will refrain from a strong retaliatory response, maintaining a strategy of 'strategic patience.' U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has reaffirmed strong U.S. support for Israel, emphasizing the commitment to prevent Iranian exploitation of the situation in Lebanon. Iranian officials condemned the airstrikes as war crimes, calling for international condemnation and expressing solidarity with Lebanon. Despite the severity of the assaults, Iran has been reluctant to engage directly, possibly due to a focus on broader diplomatic strategies. The situation remains precarious as Hezbollah suffers from significant operational setbacks while Tehran contemplates its next moves.