Iran’s supreme leader vows continued fight against Israel amid regional tensions

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, delivered a rare address on Friday, vowing that Iran’s allies in the region would continue their fight against Israel, despite escalating conflict and retaliatory attacks. The speech, which came amid rising tensions between Hezbollah and Israeli forces in Lebanon, marked Iran’s second-ever direct military strike on Israel.

Khamenei’s remarks were in defense of Tehran’s missile attack earlier in the week, which targeted Israeli military infrastructure in response to the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. He described the actions of Hezbollah and Palestinian militant group Hamas as both “logical and legal,” reaffirming Iran’s support for regional resistance movements.

The speech coincided with the upcoming anniversary of Hamas’s October 7 assault on Israel, an unprecedented attack that left 1,205 people dead and sparked ongoing warfare in the Gaza Strip. The raid prompted global outrage, yet also rallied Iran-backed militant groups in the region, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Huthi rebels in Yemen, to intensify their opposition to Israel.

Hezbollah fighters engaged Israeli forces once again on Friday near the Lebanon-Israel border, continuing the series of skirmishes that have drawn both countries into a wider war. Explosions were reported in Beirut’s southern suburbs early Saturday, after Israel’s military issued warnings for residents to evacuate.

In Jordan and Bahrain, protesters took to the streets following Friday prayers, voicing support for Hamas and Hezbollah. Demonstrators in Amman celebrated Hamas’s October 7 attack, calling it a moment of “glory and dignity” for Palestinians.

As Israel shifts its focus north to confront Hezbollah, the conflict has forced tens of thousands of Israelis to flee rocket attacks launched from southern Lebanon. Israeli forces have responded with airstrikes, targeting Hezbollah strongholds and military infrastructure. The strikes have claimed over 1,100 lives in Lebanon since late September, adding to the strain of a nation already grappling with a severe economic crisis.

Among the casualties were high-ranking Hezbollah figures and an Iranian general. The death of Nasrallah, in particular, has dealt a significant blow to Hezbollah, one of Iran’s most powerful regional allies.