Prominent Christian political leaders in Lebanon released statements on Saturday eulogizing Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah after he was confirmed killed in an Israeli attack.
Speculation that Nasrallah had been killed began swirling shortly after Israel carried out a massive strike on Friday, which leveled multiple buildings in Beirut's southern suburbs. Hezbollah, a group allied with the Palestinian militant group Hamas and backed by Iran, confirmed the death on Saturday.
Considered by some as the most charismatic leader in a network of proxies that projected Iran's power across the Middle East, Nasrallah rarely appeared in public but cultivated a cult-like following with his televised speeches. Israel and the United States have designated Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.
While Hezbollah is a Shi'ite Muslim political and militant group in Lebanon, some of the Middle Eastern nation's Christian leaders are allied with the movement.
Sleiman Frangieh, leader of Lebanon's Christian political party Marada and Hezbollah's preferred candidate for the presidency, posted a brief statement on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday.
"The symbol is gone, the legend is born, and the resistance continues," he wrote.
Former Lebanese President Michel Aoun, a Christian and founder of the Free Patriotic Movement party which is allied with Hezbollah, posted a lengthier statement praising Nasrallah as a martyr for the country.
"With the martyrdom of His Eminence the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Lebanon loses a distinguished and honest leader who led the national resistance on the paths of victory and liberation. He was faithful to his promise and loyal to his people who reciprocated his love, trust and commitment," he wrote on X.