Israel, Hezbollah signal desire to avoid further escalation

Iranian citizens have sent messages to Iran International, rallying behind striking nurses and accusing the authorities of prioritizing repression over addressing the nurses’ legitimate grievances.

“The economy in Iran has become mafia-like, corrupt, and driven by nepotism. There are no longer any spoils to divide, and the government spends any revenue it has on militarization for its survival. This is the beginning of the end, and it will lead to the downfall of the Islamic Republic like other totalitarian regimes,” one audience member told Iran International in response to the ongoing situation.

The government owes nurses 75 trillion rials (approximately $117 million) in unpaid wages—a significant sum in a country where nurses earn just $200 a month. Meanwhile, Iranians voice frustration that the government continues to fund proxy groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Since August 5, nurses in 39 cities and approximately 70 hospitals across Iran have staged protests and strikes, demanding better pay and improved working conditions. These protests have spread to major cities like Tehran, Isfahan, Mashhad, and Ahvaz. Meanwhile, the state owes

Iranian authorities have cracked down on the protests, summoning numerous nurses to security agencies, arresting others, and issuing threats to stifle the movement.

On Sunday, the rights group Hengaw reported the arrest of 31-year-old nurse Pouria Esfandiari from Milad Hospital in Tehran for participating in the protests. Esfandiari has been denied contact with his family since his arrest last week.

One audience member likened the current nurses' strike to the early days of the Woman, Life, Freedom uprising, following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody after her arrest for a hijab violation. First protests began near the hospital where she died and in a small town before the movement spread natiowide.

“Now, most of the country's hospitals have joined together and continue their protests, but because their protest is not like a revolutionary uprising in the streets, the authorities cannot easily assault them,” one audience member noted in a message to Iran International.

While security forces have not opened fire on protesters as they did during the "Woman, Life, Freedom" uprising—where at least 550 people were killed—the wave of arrests, including the case of Firouzeh Mojrian-Sharq, a protesting nurse who fell into a coma after being detained, is reminiscent of the brutal tactics used during the 2022 uprising.

Moreover, Iran International has received an outpouring of support for the nurses from citizens who remember their sacrifices during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many have expressed anger in text, audio and video messages at how the authorities, instead of acknowledging the nurses’ contributions, have chosen to respond to their grievances with repression.

The Coordinating Council of Nurses' Protests issued a statement on Friday, urging nurses nationwide to stand firm and demand the release of detained colleagues. The council also called on artists, athletes, lawyers, and influential public figures to support the nurses and amplify their voices.

Despite the Iranian authority's efforts to quell the unrest, the protests continue to gain momentum. As public support for the nurses grows, the Islamic Republic faces increasing pressure to address the underlying issues rather than relying solely on repression. However, the sentiment among supporters is clear: the Islamic Republic views the protesting nurses as outsiders and deals with their demands through force rather than dialogue.

Although Pezeshkian's directives are often non-binding, formulaic statements aimed at guiding government officials, politicians are offering more concrete policy recommendations. They are urging Pezeshkian to take decisive steps, warning that these actions are crucial as a starting point for addressing the country's pressing challenges.

According to Aftab News, Pezeshkian's first advice to his ministers during his inaugural cabinet meeting was to "avoid appointing aides based on friendships and kinship ties." However, this guidance appeared contradictory to his own decision to appoint Alireza Kazemi, the brother of IRGC Intelligence Chief General Kazemi, as the Minister of Education.

Meanwhile, Pezeshkian has faced criticism for appointing long-time friends to key positions as vice president and ministers, with accusations that these choices were influenced by shared ethnic backgrounds. Notable examples include Vice President Mohammad Jafar Ghaem Panah, Shahram Dabiri, and Health Minister Mohammad Reza Zafarghandi.

Despite this, Pezeshkian advised his colleagues to appoint their aides "based on their capabilities and commitment to the country's strategic plans, rather than on friendship, kinship ties, or shared political affiliations." He emphasized that this approach would "ensure that all officials share a unified vision for the nation."

He further stressed the importance of clearly identifying the individuals responsible for executing their work plans, defining their specific duties, and establishing clear lines of accountability. Pezeshkian also urged his colleagues to approach their tasks with patience, advising against hasty decisions. This sentiment was likely reflected in the Health Minister's response to protesting nurses, asking them to wait at least three months before their unpaid wages totaling $117 million could be paid.

Pezeshkian also called on officials to be transparent with the public, encouraging them to openly explain the reasons behind any failures to fulfill earlier promises.

Meanwhile former lawmaker Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh suggested that the Pezeshkian administration should reduce international tensions as a first step to lifting some of the sanctions, to defend and uphold civil rights and to facilitate an economic reform.

Falahatpisheh, a former chief of the Iranian parliament's National Security and Foreign Relations Committee, emphasized that Pezeshkian's first priority should be to realign Iran's foreign policy to reduce international tensions, which in turn could lead to a reduction in sanctions against the country.

In the area of domestic politics, Falahatpisheh advised that the new government must uphold Iranians' civil rights, particularly regarding the enforcement of hijab regulations and the Morality Police's violent actions against women who defy compulsory hijab rules. He noted that this was a key promise Pezeshkian made during his election campaign. Falahatpisheh argued that the bill enforcing the compulsory hijab rule is out of touch with the realities of Iranian society and stressed that no law should aim to restrict people's freedoms.

For the third step, Falahatpisheh called for economic reform focused on development. He reminded the public that Pezeshkian had previously stated that powerful institutions, which have monopolized the country's economy, should be made accountable and transparent.

Not mentioning that most of such institutions are linked to Khamenei's office, the IRGC, and religious institutions with non-transparent missions, the politician said that Pezeshkian should carry out a review of the current year's budget. He said tens of trillions of rials in the annual budget have been allocated to institutions whose activities do not benefit the nation. He emphasized that Pezeshkian should make sure that all government and non-government bodies work for the benefit of the nation.

It launched hundreds of rockets and drones against Israel on Sunday in retaliation for the assassination of a senior commander in Beirut last month, the Iranian-backed movement said. The Israeli military said it had thwarted a much larger attack with pre-emptive strikes.

Here are some facts about Hezbollah's weapons:

Arsenal overview

The Iran-backed group possesses upwards of 150,000 missiles and rockets, according to the World Factbook of the US Central Intelligence Agency.

Hezbollah says it has rockets that can hit all areas of Israel. Many are unguided, but it also has precision missiles, drones and anti-tank, anti-aircraft and anti-ship missiles.

Hezbollah's main supporter and weapons supplier is Iran. Many of its weapons are Iranian, Russian or Chinese models.

Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said in 2021 the group had 100,000 fighters. The CIA World Factbook says it was estimated in 2022 to have up to 45,000 fighters, roughly 20,000 of them full-time.

Land-attack rockets and missiles

Unguided rockets comprised the bulk of Hezbollah's missile arsenal in the last war with Israel in 2006, when the group fired about 4,000 into Israel - mostly Katyusha-style missiles with a range of 30 km (19 miles).

Nasrallah has said the biggest change in Hezbollah's arsenal since 2006 has been the expansion of its precision guidance systems and that the group has the ability to retrofit rockets with guidance systems within Lebanon.

Hezbollah has Iranian models, such as Raad (Arabic for Thunder), Fajr (Dawn) and Zilzal (Earthquake) rockets, which have a more powerful payload and longer range than Katyushas.

Rockets fired by Hezbollah at Israel during the Gaza conflict since October have included Katyushas and Burkan (Volcano) missiles with an explosive payload of 300-500 kg.

Iranian-made Falaq 2 rockets, used for the first time in June, can carry a bigger warhead than the previously used Falaq 1.

Anti-tank missiles

Hezbollah used guided anti-tank missiles extensively in the 2006 war and has deployed them again, including the Russian-made Kornet.

It has also used an Iranian-made guided missile known as "al-Mas", according to a report by the pro-Iran Arabic broadcaster al-Mayadeen. The al-Mas can hit targets beyond the line of sight following an arched trajectory, enabling it to strike from above, a report by Israel's Alma Research and Education Center said.

The missile is part of a family of weapons made by Iran through reverse engineering based on the Israeli Spike missile family, the report said.

Anti-aircraft missiles

Hezbollah has downed Israeli drones several times during this conflict using surface-to-air missiles, hitting Israeli Hermes 450 and Hermes 900 drones. Though Hezbollah was long believed to possess anti-aircraft missiles, these attacks have marked the first time the group had used this capability.

In another first, Hezbollah has said it fired at Israeli warplanes, forcing them to leave Lebanese airspace, without saying what type of weapon it used. It has not hit any.

Drones

Hezbollah has mounted numerous attacks with one-way explosive drones and has said it is using drones that drop bombs and return to Lebanon.

In some attacks, drones have been sent to distract Israeli air defences while others were flown at targets.

Hezbollah's arsenal includes the locally assembled Ayoub and Mersad models, which analysts say are cheap and relatively easy to produce.

Anti-ship missiles

Hezbollah first proved it had anti-ship missiles in 2006, when it hit an Israeli warship 16 km (10 miles) off the coast, killing four Israeli personnel and damaging the vessel.

Since the 2006 war, Hezbollah has acquired the Russian-made Yakhont anti-ship missile with a range of 300 km (186 miles), sources familiar with its arsenal say. Hezbollah has not confirmed it has the weapon.

(Factbox by Reuters)

On this somber anniversary, Khavaran Cemetery—the infamous site where thousands of political prisoners were buried in unmarked mass graves—was once again sealed off by the authorities. The families, who for decades have gathered at this barren plot to mourn, remember, and demand justice, were denied entry. Their grief met with the cold indifference of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

This closure is not just an attempt to physically bar families from mourning; it is part of a broader, systematic effort to erase the memory of the 1988 massacre and stifle the pursuit of accountability. Yet, this act of repression only fuels the determination of the Mothers of Khavaran, who have dedicated their lives to keeping the memory of their loved ones alive and demanding justice.

Note: The author's brother was one of the political prisoners summarily executed in 1988.

In the summer of 1988, as the Iran-Iraq war came to a close, the Islamic Republic of Iran initiated one of the most heinous acts of political repression in its history. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, then-Supreme Leader, issued a fatwa that led to the formation of "Death Commissions" tasked with summarily trying political prisoners. Many of these prisoners had already served years of their sentences; they were brought before these commissions, where they were questioned about their religious and political beliefs. Those who refused to denounce their affiliations or faith were sentenced to death.

The executions were carried out with chilling efficiency, with prisoners hanged in groups and buried in mass graves. Khavaran Cemetery, a desolate stretch of land on the outskirts of Tehran, became one of the most infamous sites of these mass graves. The government not only executed these prisoners in secret but also worked tirelessly to cover up the crime. Families were denied the bodies of their loved ones, refused the right to hold funerals, and were kept in the dark about the location of their graves.

Yet, despite the regime's best efforts to erase the memory of those who were executed, the families refused to be silenced. The Mothers of Khavaran, along with other family members, have for decades braved the threats and intimidation to gather at Khavaran, laying flowers and placing photos on the unmarked graves. Their defiance has been met with brutal force—flowers trampled, photos destroyed, and mourners harassed and arrested. But these mothers persisted, turning their grief into a powerful symbol of resistance against a regime that sought to obliterate the memory of their children.

The Mothers of Plaza de Mayo: A Parallel Struggle

The story of the Mothers of Khavaran bears a striking resemblance to the struggle of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo in Argentina. During Argentina's "Dirty War" (1976-1983), the military dictatorship kidnapped and "disappeared" thousands of people, most of whom were young political activists. The government denied any knowledge of their whereabouts, leaving families in a state of perpetual uncertainty and grief.

In response, the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo began gathering every Thursday in the Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires, demanding to know the fate of their disappeared children. Wearing white headscarves embroidered with the names of their children, these women became an iconic symbol of resistance against state terrorism. They, too, faced repression, threats, and violence, but they refused to be silenced. Their persistent efforts eventually brought international attention to the crimes of the dictatorship, leading to some degree of accountability and justice.

Both the Mothers of Khavaran and the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo have shown extraordinary courage and resilience in the face of overwhelming odds. Their struggles are not just about seeking justice for their loved ones; they are also about preserving the collective memory of their societies. By keeping the stories of their children alive, they have challenged the state's monopoly on history and truth.

Grief as a Catalyst for Political Activism

The grief of the Mothers of Khavaran and the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo transcends personal loss; it has become a powerful force for political and social change. Gail Holst-Warhaft, in her work on grief and its political uses, argues that the control of mourning and the dead is a potent tool for regimes seeking to suppress dissent. By denying families the right to mourn, regimes attempt to control the narrative and prevent the formation of a collective memory that could challenge their authority.

However, as seen in both Iran and Argentina, this strategy can backfire. The refusal to allow families to grieve publicly has often led to the politicization of grief, turning mourning into a form of resistance. The Mothers of Khavaran and the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo have transformed their sorrow into a relentless pursuit of justice, using their loss as a catalyst for broader social and political activism.

In both cases, the mothers' activism has forced the state to confront its past, even if it has not yet resulted in full accountability. The Mothers of Plaza de Mayo succeeded in bringing international attention to the atrocities committed by the Argentine dictatorship, leading to trials and convictions of some of those responsible. The Mothers of Khavaran, on the other hand, continue to fight against a regime that still distorts and hides the truth about the 1988 massacre. Their battle for justice is far from over, but their persistence ensures that the memory of the victims will not be erased.

Hezbollah’s decision to strike was in retaliation for the assassination of a senior commander in Beirut last month, the Iranian-backed group said, as Israel's cabinet met to prepare a response.

Since the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31, the world was expecting an Iranian retaliation, directly or through Hezbollah and Tehran’s other proxy forces in the region.

Israeli jets hit targets in Lebanon shortly before the strikes as the military assessed that Hezbollah was preparing to begin the barrage, the military said.

Hezbollah said it had launched more than 320 Katyusha rockets towards Israel and hit 11 military targets. It said the barrage had completed "the first phase" of its response to the assassination of Fuad Shukr, a senior commander, in Beirut but that the full response would take "some time".

There was no statement by Iranian officials at the time of this publication and government-controlled media only carried the Hezbollah statement.

Israel's cabinet was to meet at 7 a.m. (0400 GMT), Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced.

A few hours later, Israel's military said it carried out further attacks against Hezbollah rocket launchers in southern Lebanon. "In the last hour, the IDF struck Hezbollah launchers in several areas in southern Lebanon to remove threats," the military said in a statement.

Foreign Minister Israel Katz said Israel would respond to developments on the ground but did not seek a full-scale war. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel would do whatever necessary to defend itself.

"We have conducted precise strikes in Lebanon in order to thwart an imminent threat against the citizens of Israel. We are closely following developments in Beirut, and we are determined to use all the means at our disposal in order to defend our citizens," Gallant said in a statement.

Most of the Israeli strikes were hitting targets in southern Lebanon but the military was ready to strike anywhere there was a threat, an Israeli military spokesperson said.

Gallant declared a state of emergency, and flights to and from Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv were suspended for around 90 minutes, but the airports authority said normal operations were expected to resume soon.

In northern Israel, warning sirens sounded, and multiple explosions were heard around several areas as Israel's Iron Dome aerial defense system shot down rockets coming from southern Lebanon. Israel's Magen David Adom ambulance service said it was on high alert all over the country.

The Israeli military issued civil defense instructions from central Israel to the north, limiting gatherings but authorizing people to go to work as long as they were able to reach air raid shelters quickly. There were no casualties immediately reported in Israel, according to the ambulance service.

Fears of regional conflict

A security source in Lebanon said at least 40 Israeli strikes had hit various towns in the country's south in one of the densest bombardments since hostilities began in October.

A resident of the southern Lebanese town of Zibqeen, some 7 km (4 miles) from the border, told Reuters it was the first time he had awakened "to the sound of planes and the loud explosions of rockets - even before the dawn prayer. It felt like the apocalypse."

Israel's Army Radio, citing defense officials, said the military assessed that Hezbollah had been preparing to fire hundreds of missiles into central Israel in an attack planned for 5 a.m.

Around 100 Israeli jets foiled the Hezbollah missile strikes, beginning their attack half an hour beforehand, the report said, adding that the military assessed the subsequent Hezbollah barrage was "improvised".

"Dozens of (Israeli Air Force) jets are currently striking targets in various locations in southern Lebanon. We are continuing to remove threats, and to intensively strike against the Hezbollah terrorist organization," said a military spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari.

The Israel-Hezbollah escalation has drawn fears of a wider regional conflict, potentially involving both the United States and Iran. President Joe Biden was following events closely, the White House said.

"At his direction, senior US officials have been communicating continuously with their Israeli counterparts. We will keep supporting Israel’s right to defend itself, and we will keep working for regional stability," said National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett.

Iran has hinted that if there is ceasefire in Gaza it might reconsider retaliation for Haniyeh’s killing, or significantly limit its dimensions. It appears important for Tehran to save Hamas from a military defeat.

The strikes came as negotiators were meeting in Cairo in a last-ditch effort to conclude a halt to fighting in Gaza and a return of Israeli and foreign hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

Hezbollah fired missiles at Israel immediately after the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas gunmen on Israel. Hezbollah and Israel have been exchanging fire constantly ever since, while avoiding a major escalation as war rages in Gaza to the south.

With Reporting by Reuters