Lagatar24 Desk
Beirut: Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has been killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut, the Israeli military announced on Saturday. The 64-year-old Nasrallah, who was one of the most powerful figures in Lebanon, had lost communication with his group since Friday night, a source close to Hezbollah told news agency AFP.
“Hassan Nasrallah is dead,” stated Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani, a military spokesman, in a post on X (formerly Twitter). The statement came following intense Israeli airstrikes that targeted dozens of Hezbollah sites in eastern and southern Lebanon after Hezbollah launched rockets into northern Israel.
Targeting Hezbollah Strongholds in Beirut
The airstrikes bombarded Hezbollah’s key strongholds in southern Beirut, flattening several residential buildings. Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claimed, “Hassan Nasrallah will no longer be able to terrorise the world,” and emphasised their determination to strike any group threatening Israel’s citizens.
Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi further commented, “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.”
Hezbollah Retaliates, Nasrallah’s Legacy
The wave of retaliatory strikes came just hours after Hezbollah launched Fadi-1 rockets into northern Israel, including targeting Kibbutz Kabri. The attack was described by Hezbollah as defending Lebanon against “barbaric” Israeli aggression.
During Nasrallah’s 32-year leadership of Hezbollah, he was responsible for orchestrating numerous terrorist activitiesacross the world, including attacks that resulted in the deaths of Israeli civilians and soldiers. Nasrallah was seen as both a military strategist and a political force capable of waging war or brokering peace in the region.
Reports from Channel 12 suggested that Zainab, Nasrallah’s daughter, was also killed in one of the Israeli airstrikes, though Hezbollah has not confirmed the claim. Additionally, Ali Karake, the commander of Hezbollah’s southern front, was among the other casualties of the strikes.
Escalating Tensions and Civilian Impact
The airstrikes have intensified, with air raid sirens blaring across northern Israel in response to the rockets launched from Lebanon. The Israeli military confirmed the interception of one missile, while another fell in an open area without causing damage.
In Lebanon, the health ministry has ordered the evacuation of hospitals in Beirut’s southern suburbs, anticipating further escalation. More than 700 people have been killed in the bombings, with over 118,000 displaced.
The situation remains volatile as both sides brace for what could become a larger confrontation in the region.
