Lebanese PM announces three days of national mourning over Hezbollah leader’s assassination

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati declared a three-day national mourning period on Saturday following the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, heightening fears of a broader regional conflict.

In an official statement, Mikati’s office announced that flags would be lowered to half-mast across all government departments, public institutions, and municipalities. Additionally, public offices will remain closed on the day of Nasrallah’s funeral, although Hezbollah has yet to announce the funeral date.

Earlier in the week, Israeli forces launched extensive airstrikes in Lebanon, resulting in hundreds of deaths and displacing thousands. The situation intensified on Friday when Nasrallah and other Hezbollah commanders were killed in Beirut. Israeli airstrikes continued into Saturday, further escalating tensions.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi expressed Cairo’s support for Lebanon during a phone call with Prime Minister Mikati on Saturday. According to the Egyptian presidency, al-Sisi directed the immediate deployment of emergency medical and relief aid to Lebanon. He emphasized Egypt’s commitment to Lebanon’s security, stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and called for an immediate, comprehensive, and permanent ceasefire in both Lebanon and Gaza.

Al-Sisi criticized the international community for not taking sufficient action to halt aggressive practices against the Palestinian territories and Lebanon, warning that such inaction could lead to a dangerous regional escalation threatening global stability and peace.

Prime Minister Mikati thanked Egypt for its support and praised the Egyptian role in restoring security and stability in the region. He also acknowledged the efforts of the Lebanese government to contain the escalating situation.

Since the beginning of Israel’s offensive on the Gaza Strip on October 7 last year, which followed a cross-border attack by Hamas, nearly 41,600 people, mostly women and children, have been killed.

The ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel has raised concerns about the potential for the Gaza conflict to expand into a wider regional war, prompting international warnings against further strikes in Lebanon.

The international community remains vigilant as efforts continue to prevent the situation from deteriorating into a larger-scale war in the Middle East.