Israel’s killing of Hezbollah leader Nasrallah could mark a new chapter for Iran and the Middle East war, says ARD correspondent Willinger. Because the pressure on Tehran to intervene directly is great.
After the Israeli military announced that it had killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in an airstrike, Iran’s religious leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a statement. The fact that he did not deny Nasrallah’s death is seen as confirmation of Nasrallah’s death, he says ARD correspondent Katharina Willinger in Tehran. Hezbollah has now also confirmed the death.
Khamenei’s statement contains no indication of an imminent reaction from Iran, the Shiite Hezbollah militia’s closest ally. Nevertheless, direct military intervention by Iran in the Middle East war is becoming increasingly likely with the death of Nasrallah, explains Willinger. Tehran would probably not announce its intervention in advance this time.
Hardliners demand retribution
In recent decades, Iran has waged war primarily through its proxies: Hezbollah, the Houthis in Yemen, and pro-Iranian militias in Iraq and Syria. “Now the death of Nasrallah and the Israeli actions against Hezbollah as a whole could open a new chapter – the end of the so-called proxy war,” says Willinger.
In the last few weeks, the pressure on the Iranian government from hardliners has increased immensely. They would now demand quick retribution. “Tonight there were already demonstrations by hardliners on the streets here in Tehran, and some have also been announced for the afternoon,” said Willinger.
Iran has a very strong army. Just last week, new ballistic missiles were presented at a military parade in Tehran. “But in a direct confrontation with the Israelis, who also have Western allies like the USA behind them, you would probably lose out.” This also explains why the leadership in Tehran has so far held back in recent months.