The German government said Saturday that the killing of long-time Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in a wave of Israeli strikes on Lebanon could have negative repercussions for Israel's own security.

In an interview to German TV channel ARD, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the "highly dangerous" situation after Nasrallah's death "threatens destabilization for the whole of Lebanon," adding: "That is in no way in Israel's security interest."

Middle East nations and Hezbollah's allies in the Tehran-aligned "Axis of Resistance" reacted on Saturday to the killing of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah after the Lebanon-based group confirmed their leader's death in Israeli strikes.

Military officials in Israel announced on Saturday morning that Nasrallah, who headed Hezbollah for more than three decades, died in bombardment targeting the group's headquarters in the southern suburbs of Beirut Friday night.

Russia on Saturday strongly condemned Israel for killing Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and urged it to immediately cease military action in Lebanon.

"We decisively condemn the latest political murder carried out by Israel," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement, adding: "We once again insistently urge Israel to immediately cease military action."

Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref said Saturday that the killing of Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in an air strike in the Lebanese capital will bring about Israel's "destruction."

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemned on Saturday what he called an Israeli "massacre" in Lebanon after strikes that Israel said killed the Hezbollah leader.

Lebanon's health ministry gave a preliminary toll of six dead and 91 wounded from the latest strikes on Beirut's densely populated southern suburbs since Friday, the fiercest to hit Hezbollah's stronghold since Israel and the group last went to war in 2006.

The Israeli military said on Saturday the killing of Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, one of its "greatest enemies", made the world safer but the group's remaining senior members would still be targeted.

"Nasrallah was one of the greatest enemies of the state of Israel of all time... His elimination makes the world a safer place," military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said at a televised briefing.

Iran's foreign ministry said Saturday the path of Hezbollah's chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah will continue despite his killing in an Israeli air strike after a year of cross-border clashes between the two sides.

Hamas on Saturday condemned the killing of Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah after the Lebanon-based group confirmed his death in an Israeli strike on south Beirut a day earlier.

"We condemn in the strongest terms this barbaric Zionist aggression and targeting of residential buildings... and we consider it a cowardly terrorist act," the group said in a statement, offering "condolences, and solidarity with the brothers in Hezbollah and the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon on the martyrdom of... Nasrallah."

Hezbollah on Saturday confirmed its leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah had been killed, after Israel said it had "eliminated" him in a strike on Beirut's southern suburbs a day earlier.

"Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Secretary General of Hezbollah, has joined his great, immortal martyr comrades whom he led for about 30 years," Hezbollah said in a statement.

Israel's military announced Saturday that Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli strike on Beirut the previous night, but there was no confirmation from the Lebanese armed group.