ISTANBUL 

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas offered his condolences to Hezbollah on Saturday over the assassination of its leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was targeted in Israeli airstrikes on Beirut the previous day, Wafa news agency reported.

In a statement, Abbas “extended his heartfelt sympathies to the Lebanese government and the brotherly people of Lebanon over the civilian casualties resulting from the ongoing Israeli aggression."

Israeli forces began large-scale airstrikes in Lebanon earlier this week, killing hundreds, displacing many more, and targeting Nasrallah and other commanders.

It has been nearly a year of cross-border fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, sparked by the war in Gaza.

Hezbollah said it is acting in support of Hamas and will not stop until there is a cease-fire in the Palestinian enclave.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala