BEIRUT, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun on Sunday stressed that the country's decision for war or peace rests solely with the government amid fears of spillover from U.S.-Israel attacks on Iran.
In a Higher Defense Council meeting, Aoun said the exclusive authority to decide on war and peace lies with Lebanon's constitutional institutions, Lebanon's National News Agency reported.
The council urged all parties to uphold national responsibility during this sensitive period, reassured the public of sufficient essential supplies and instructed authorities to maintain secure air traffic.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem on Sunday accused United States and Israel of carrying out a "criminal and tyrannical aggression" that killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
In a statement, Qassem described Khamenei's death as a "great martyrdom," saying the Iranian leader had attained "the highest medal of honor and resistance."
"Regardless of the scale of sacrifices, we will not leave the field of honor and resistance in confronting American tyranny and Zionist aggression," Qassem added.
The United States and Israel launched massive attacks against Iran on Saturday, prompting retaliatory strikes by Iran against Israeli and U.S. targets across the Middle East. ■
