The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Saturday that a targeted airstrike has killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The strike, carried out by Israeli Air Force (IAF) fighter jets, also resulted in the death of Ali Karki, Commander of Hezbollah’s Southern Front.
The airstrike targeted Hezbollah’s Central Headquarters, reportedly located underground beneath a residential building in the Dahieh area of Beirut. The IDF operation, code-named “New Order,” was launched after precise intelligence indicated the presence of senior Hezbollah commanders at the site. According to the IDF, the commanders were actively planning terrorist operations against Israel.
“Nasrallah will no longer be able to terrorize the world,” the IDF said in a statement posted on the social media platform X, confirming the death of Nasrallah, who had led Hezbollah for 32 years.
Under Nasrallah’s leadership, Hezbollah had grown into a powerful Iranian-backed militant organization, often acting as a proxy for Iran in its regional confrontation with Israel. Nasrallah was widely regarded as the group’s central decision-maker, responsible for orchestrating terrorist attacks around the world, including those resulting in the deaths of Israeli civilians and soldiers.
“During Hassan Nasrallah’s 32-year reign as the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, he was responsible for the murder of many Israeli civilians and soldiers, and the planning and execution of thousands of terrorist activities,” the IDF statement added.
The airstrike comes amidst a growing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which has been exacerbated since Hezbollah joined Hamas in its war against Israel on October 8. Since then, Hezbollah has launched what Israel describes as “unprovoked attacks” on Israeli civilians, further fueling fears of regional escalation.
The Israeli airstrikes targeting Beirut lasted for five hours early Saturday, following what Israeli officials called the most powerful bombardment on the city during the conflict with Hezbollah. The heightened violence has raised concerns that the conflict could spiral out of control, potentially involving Iran, Hezbollah’s main backer, as well as the United States, Israel’s key ally.
Despite Israel’s confirmation of Nasrallah’s death, the Iranian state news agency IRNA has dismissed the reports as “baseless” until Hezbollah issues an official statement. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reportedly convened an emergency session of the Supreme National Security Council on Friday, raising further questions about Iran’s next steps.
The death of Nasrallah, a key figure in the broader Iranian-Hezbollah axis, is likely to have profound consequences for the Middle East. Analysts warn that the escalation could draw in more international actors, including Iran and the United States, potentially plunging the region into a wider conflict.
The Israeli military, for its part, reiterated its determination to defend its citizens from attacks. “The Hezbollah terrorist organization, headed by Hassan Nasrallah, joined the Hamas terrorist organization in its war against the State of Israel on October 8th,” the IDF said. “Since then, Hezbollah has been continuing its ongoing and unprovoked attacks on the citizens of the State of Israel, dragging the State of Lebanon and the entire region into a wider escalation.”
As the situation unfolds, the region braces for possible retaliation from Hezbollah and its allies, as well as further developments from Tehran.
