Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Friday, September 27, 2024, in a targeted assault on the group’s headquarters in Beirut’s southern suburb of Dahiyeh.
Israeli military officials confirmed Nasrallah’s death in a public statement early Saturday morning.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched the strike after receiving precise intelligence about Hezbollah’s command activities. Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, an IDF spokesperson, confirmed Nasrallah’s death via X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Hassan Nasrallah is dead.”
Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, Chief of the General Staff of the IDF, remarked, “This is not the end of our toolbox. The message is simple: anyone who threatens the citizens of Israel, we will know how to reach them.”
The attack leveled six apartment buildings and injured over 90 people, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.
The Israeli military stated that the airstrike had been specifically aimed at Hezbollah’s underground command center, where senior officials, including Nasrallah and Ali Karki, were coordinating terrorist operations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had reportedly approved the operation shortly after delivering a speech at the United Nations, where he affirmed Israel’s right to defend itself against Hezbollah’s threats.
Following initial denials by Hezbollah that Nasrallah had survived the attack, the group later confirmed his death in a statement, vowing to continue its fight against Israel “in support of Gaza and Palestine, and in defense of Lebanon and its steadfast and honorable people.”
The loss of Nasrallah is seen as a great blow to Hezbollah, both tactically and symbolically. Under his leadership since 1992, the group became a formidable force in Lebanon and across the region.
Hanin Ghaddar, an expert at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, noted, “The whole structure of Hezbollah’s military system is basically now gone. If they want to escalate, they have a problem because there’s no one clear leader on the ground anymore.”
However, Iran, Hezbollah’s main sponsor, reacted sharply to Nasrallah’s death. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, downplayed the damage to Hezbollah’s overall capabilities, stating that Israel had not caused “any major damage to the strong structure of Hezbollah.”
Khamenei urged the region’s Muslim communities to stand united with Hezbollah against Israel.
The IDF has reportedly struck over 140 Hezbollah-related sites in the last week, including missile launchers, weapons storage facilities, and strategic assets, many of which were hidden beneath residential areas.
Despite the airstrike’s success, analysts warn that Nasrallah’s death could provoke a severe response from Hezbollah or Iran, potentially triggering a regional conflict.
Notwithstanding, Israel has indicated it is prepared for any retaliation and has mobilized two brigades near the Lebanese border in anticipation of further escalation.
Lt. Gen. Halevi maintained that Israel’s military campaign would continue, stating, “We are moving forward with sharp preparation for the next steps.”
As the conflict rages on, Western powers, including the United States, have expressed concern about a regional war. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin confirmed that the U.S. was not involved in Israel’s operation and had received “no advance warning.”
Negotiations for a ceasefire have so far proven fruitless, as both sides brace for what could be an even more intense phase of the conflict.
As of September 28, 2024, Lebanese officials report over 300 civilian deaths and thousands displaced due to Israeli bombardments in the south of the country.
Impact of the Conflict Since October 7
Since the war began on October 7, 2024, following a devastating Hamas attack on Israel, which killed over 1,200 people and led to the abduction of over 250 Israeli civilians and soldiers, the region has descended into chaos.
In response, Israel launched extensive military operations in Gaza, which have resulted in the deaths of over 41,000 Palestinians and the injury of more than 96,000, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has drawn global condemnation, with entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble and essential services disrupted.
Hezbollah’s involvement in the conflict began shortly after October 8, when the group launched rocket attacks on northern Israel in solidarity with Hamas.
Israeli authorities reported that over 60,000 Israelis were displaced from northern towns due to continuous rocket fire.
The IDF has struck over 140 Hezbollah-related targets in Lebanon, destroying weapons depots, missile launchers, and command centers.
