Netanyahu threatens Tehran at UNGA while Iranians protest against Israeli 'bloodbath'

Thousands of Iranians gathered in the capital, Tehran, and other cities on Friday (September 27) to protest Israeli attacks on Lebanon and Gaza, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to strike Iran if provoked.

Following Friday prayers, demonstrators in Tehran’s Enghelab Square held portraits of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and waved Palestinian and Hezbollah flags, chanting slogans against Israel. “Israel is destroyed. Lebanon is victorious,” they shouted, denouncing what they called a “bloodbath" in Lebanon.

Protests also took place in cities including Semnan, Qom, Kashan, Kermanshah, Shiraz, and Bandar Abbas, according to state television.

A state-supported demonstration in Iran

Officials had urged nationwide demonstrations earlier this week in support of the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement and to condemn Israel’s actions in Palestine.

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The protests come amid escalating violence in the region.

Lebanese authorities say Israeli strikes have killed more than 1,500 people in Lebanon over the past year, a death toll higher than the 1,200 mostly civilians who died during the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war. That conflict also claimed the lives of about 160 Israelis, most of them soldiers.

Netanyahu at UNGA

Meanwhile, at the United Nations General Assembly, Netanyahu rejected calls for a ceasefire, vowing to continue Israel’s offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon. He dismissed a 21-day truce proposed by France and the United States, stating that Israel would not halt its operations.

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Netanyahu also issued a warning to Iran, saying, “If you strike us, we will strike you.” He added, “There is no place in Iran that the long arm of Israel cannot reach, and that’s true of the entire Middle East.” His speech was met with walkouts by delegates from Lebanon, Iran, and the Palestinians.

The Israeli leader’s remarks underscored the tense atmosphere at the UN, as he accused the international body of bias against Israel, drawing jeers from several members present.

Hezbollah, aligned with Iran, is part of the so-called “Axis of Resistance,” which also includes Palestinian militant groups. These forces have regularly targeted Israeli positions and U.S. interests in the region in support of the Palestinian cause.

With inputs from agencies