Israeli Army Claims to Have Eliminated Hezbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) on Friday conducted a major airstrike in Beirut, Lebanon, resulting in the death of Hassan Nasrallah, the long-time leader of Hezbollah.

The strike targeted Hezbollah's "central headquarters" located in the Haret Hreik neighborhood, a stronghold for the group in Beirut's southern suburbs. This operation was part of Israel's intensified campaign against Hezbollah, which has been firing rockets and drones into Israel for nearly a year.

The IDF confirmed that Nasrallah, who had led Hezbollah since 1992, was killed alongside Ali Karki, the Commander of Hezbollah's Southern Front, and other senior commanders.

The airstrike, carried out by Israeli fighter jets, hit a command facility embedded under a residential building. The attack aimed to disrupt Hezbollah's senior chain of command, which was actively planning terrorist activities against Israel.

In response to the strike, Hezbollah vowed to "continue the holy war against the enemy and in support of Palestine." The Lebanese Health Ministry reported that at least six people were killed and 91 wounded, with the casualty number expected to rise as rescue operations continued.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who cut short his visit to the United States to return home, addressed the United Nations hours before the strike, reaffirming Israel's commitment to its campaign against Hezbollah. He stated, "anyone who threatens the citizens of Israel — we will know how to reach them."

The airstrike caused massive explosions, reducing six buildings to rubble and creating craters in the densely populated Shiite neighborhood. The shock wave from the blasts rattled windows and shook houses up to 18 miles north of Beirut. The Pentagon noted that the U.S. had no advance warning of the strikes, while President Biden was briefed multiple times on the situation.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called on all Muslims to support Hezbollah against Israel, describing the Israeli regime as "occupier, evil and suppressor." The Iranian-backed group, Hezbollah, began firing rockets into Israel following Hamas' attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people in Israel.

The recent escalation has seen over 720 people killed in Lebanon due to Israeli strikes, including dozens of women and children. Despite international calls for a cease-fire, Netanyahu's comments at the U.N. dampened hopes for a truce, as he vowed to "continue degrading Hezbollah" until Israel achieves its goals.