Hezbollah chief killed in Israeli strike, most powerful target so far

Lebanon’s Hezbollah group confirmed on Saturday that its leader and one of its founders, Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut the previous day.

Hezbollah vowed to “continue the war against the enemy and in support of Palestine.” Nasrallah, who led Hezbollah for more than three decades, is by far the most powerful target to be killed by Israel in weeks of intensified fighting with Hezbollah. The Israeli military said it carried out a precise airstrike on Friday while Hezbollah leadership were meeting at their headquarters in Dahiyeh, south of Beirut.

The Lebanese Health Ministry said six persons were killed and 91 injured in the strikes, which levelled six apartment buildings. Ali Karki, the commander of Hezbollah’s Southern Front and other commanders were also killed, the Israeli military said.

Iran announced on Saturday that a prominent general in its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard sanctioned by the US died in the same airstrike. Abbas Nilforushan (58), who the US identified as the deputy commander for operations in the Guard, was killed on Friday, Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported.

Lt Col Nadav Shoshani, an army spokesperson, said the airstrike was based on years of tracking Nasrallah along with “real-time information” that made it viable. He declined to say what munitions were used in the strike or provide an estimate on civilian deaths, only saying that Israel takes measures to avoid civilians whenever possible and clears strikes ahead of time with intelligence and legal experts.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas, in a statement, issued condolences to its ally, Hezbollah. Nasrallah frequently described launching rockets against northern Israel as a “support front” for Hamas and Palestinians in Gaza. “History has proven that the resistance... whenever its leaders die as martyrs, will be succeeded on the same path by a generation of leaders who are more valiant, stronger and more determined to continue the confrontation,” the Hamas statement said.

It added that “assassinations will only increase the resistance in Lebanon and Palestine in determination and resolve.” Immediately after the official confirmation from Hezbollah, people starting firing in the air in Beirut and other areas of the country, to mourn Nasrallah’s death. Some were protesting that he was killed because of his support for the war in Gaza.

Israel’s Chief of Staff Lt Gen Herzi Halevi said on Saturday that the elimination of Nasrallah was “not the end of our toolbox,” indicating that more strikes were planned. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant called it “the most important targeted strike since the founding of Israel.” Israel has vowed to step up pressure on Hezbollah until it halts its attacks that have displaced tens of thousands of Israelis from communities near the Lebanese border. The recent fighting has also displaced more than two lakh Lebanese in the past week, according to the UN.

It's justice for his many victims

Israel’s killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is a measure of justice for his many victims. The US fully supports Israel’s right to defend itself against Iran-supported groups. — Joe Biden, US President