Tens of thousands have protested in Iranian cities to condemn Israeli attacks on Lebanon and Gaza, AFP journalists and state media report.

The demonstrations in Tehran and other Iranian cities were responding to a call by authorities on Wednesday to demonstrate in support of Hezbollah in Lebanon “and to condemn the barbaric crimes of the Zionist regime in Palestine”, the official IRNA news agency said.

Hezbollah is part of the “axis of resistance” Iran-aligned armed groups across the Middle East that have targeted Israel, and also US forces, in support of Hamas. The alliance also includes Yemen’s Houthi rebels who organised a demonstration by tens of thousands in the capital Sanaa on Friday a day after firing a missile at Israel.

In Tehran after Friday prayers, a protest took place around Enghelab Square in the city centre, an AFP journalist said. “Israel is destroyed. Lebanon is victorious,” they chanted, deploring “a bloodbath in Lebanon.” Protesters also burned Israeli and US flags.

State television aired footage of other demonstrations in Semnan, Qom, Kashan, Kermanshah, Shiraz and Bandar Abbas.