Iranians protest Hezbollah chief's killing, demand 'revenge' against Israel

Protesters condemned the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah by Israel and demanded "revenge" as they rallied in support of the Iran-backed group.

In Short

• Gunfire erupted in Beirut post-confirmation, protests spread
• Protesters chant against Israel, US; burn flags, wave rifles
• Iran's Khamenei urges support for Lebanon, Hezbollah against Israel

Thousands of Iranians took to the streets on Saturday in Tehran and across the country, condemning the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and seeking 'revenge' against Israel’s offensive against Lebanon.

Israel targeted the Iran-backed terror group’s headquarters in southern Beirut on Friday. Iran-backed terror group Hezbollah confirmed Nasrallah's death on Saturday, just hours after Israel announced his killing.

Immediately after Hezbollah officially confirmed the news, gunfire erupted in Beirut and other parts of Lebanon, according to news agency AP. Protesters claimed Nasrallah was targeted due to his support for the war in Gaza.

"Wish it was our kids, not you, Sayyid!" one woman was quoted as saying in Baabda city.

The protests began on Friday night at Tehran's Palestine Square, with crowds chanting slogans like "Revenge," "Down with Israel," and "Down with the US," according to Iran's state-owned Press TV. Some demonstrators were reportedly seen waving rifles during the protest.

Protesters waved portraits of Nasrallah alongside Palestinian and Hezbollah flags, while burning Israeli and US flags, chanting, "Israel is destroyed, Lebanon is victorious".

The demonstrations followed a call from Iranian authorities urging citizens to take to the streets "to condemn the barbaric crimes of the Zionist regime in Palestine," according to the official IRNA news agency.

Local broadcasts showed protests across Iranian cities, including Semnan, Qom, Kashan, Kermanshah, Shiraz, and Bandar Abbas. Demonstrations also erupted in Yemen’s Houthi-controlled capital, Sanaa.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called on Muslims "to stand by the people of Lebanon and the proud Hezbollah” with whatever means they have and assist them in “confronting the wicked regime” of Israel.

"The fate of this region will be determined by the forces of resistance, with Hezbollah at the forefront", state media quoted Khamenei.

The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has dramatically escalated in recent weeks, following the explosion of thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies used by the terror group, which it blamed on Israel. Over 800 people have been killed, and scores displaced, with both Hezbollah and Israel vowing to continue the fight.