Iran’s Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, stated that Hezbollah remains capable of tipping the balance in Lebanon despite recent setbacks.

In a televised interview, Larijani said:

The recent assassinations, including those of commanders and nuclear scientists, have not destroyed Hezbollah nor Iran’s scientific and technological capabilities.”

He added, “It cannot be denied that Hezbollah suffered a major blow with the assassination of its leader Hassan Nasrallah, but this movement will not be destroyed—in fact, its capabilities will grow thanks to its ideology and its struggle.”

Larijani noted that during his visit to Lebanon, he witnessed Hezbollah rapidly rebuilding and continuing its resistance, emphasizing that:

“The experience of reconstruction and sustained resistance in the region is invaluable.”

Hassan Nasrallah, the former secretary-general of Hezbollah, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on September 27, 2024, which targeted the party’s central command headquarters in Beirut’s southern suburb.

Israel continues to maintain forces in at least five locations in southern Lebanon, despite the deadline for full withdrawal under the ceasefire agreement with Lebanon—raising tensions in the region.

This follows a prolonged exchange of rocket fire between Hezbollah and Israel during the Gaza war, which lasted over a year. Although both sides agreed to a ceasefire, Israel has continued conducting airstrikes in southern and eastern Lebanon, undermining the agreement and fueling concerns about escalating regional instability.