Following the Israeli strike in a densely populated neighborhood of Beirut that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, US national security spokesperson John Kirby expressed that while nobody is mourning Nasrallah's death, any loss of civilian life is mourned. Kirby emphasized that Nasrallah was a known terrorist responsible for American and Israeli casualties, and his death makes people safer.
Regarding the civilian death toll from the strike, Kirby mentioned that it cannot be quantified at the moment, and discussions with Israeli counterparts are ongoing. He reiterated that every civilian death is a tragedy, underscoring the importance of minimizing civilian casualties.
Since the escalation of Israel's attacks in Lebanon, over 1,000 people have lost their lives, as reported by the Lebanese government. The strike that killed Nasrallah was part of a series of explosions that destroyed residential buildings in a crowded area of Beirut's southern suburbs. Israel has accused Hezbollah of using civilians as 'human shields.'
While Kirby refrained from commenting on Israel's decision-making process, he highlighted that the United States, under President Joe Biden's leadership, is actively advocating for diplomacy and a ceasefire. Kirby stressed the necessity of de-escalation efforts to mitigate further violence and loss of life.
