Khamenei assures Hezbollah will withstand Lebanon bombardment

The Shia armed group has suffered losses among its top commanders but will not be "brought to its knees," the supreme leader asserts.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei addresses a meeting in Tehran, Iran, on September 25, 2024 [West Asia News Agency via Reuters].

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has affirmed that Hezbollah remains resilient despite the loss of several top commanders to Israeli strikes. Speaking to military personnel on Wednesday, amid Israel’s third consecutive day of bombardment against the Shia armed group, Iran’s supreme leader acknowledged that Hezbollah has been weakened but emphasized its survival.

"Some of Hezbollah's valuable forces were martyred, which certainly caused damage, but not enough to bring the group to its knees," Khamenei said. He highlighted Hezbollah’s strong organizational structure and human resources, asserting that the loss of a senior commander, while significant, would not cripple the group. He concluded by proclaiming that the "Palestinian and Lebanese resistance will achieve final victory."