Hezbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah Killed in Israeli Airstrike in Beirut

Beirut, Lebanon – Hassan Nasrallah, the secretary-general of the Iran-backed Hezbollah group, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Friday, marking a significant escalation in Israel’s military actions in Lebanon, according to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).

“Hassan Nasrallah will no longer be able to terrorise the world,” the IDF announced on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, following the attack.

The 64-year-old Nasrallah was reportedly in a bunker beneath Hezbollah’s main headquarters in Beirut when Israeli warplanes bombed the area. The strike, which “levelled six buildings,” also resulted in the deaths of several high-ranking Hezbollah officials.

The IDF confirmed the elimination of Muhammad Ali Ismail, the commander of Hezbollah’s missile unit in southern Lebanon, along with his deputy, Hussein Ahmad Ismail, and other essential “commanders and operatives” who were attending a meeting with Nasrallah.

This operation follows a series of Israeli strikes earlier in the week that killed three senior Hezbollah military commanders, resulting in over 700 reported casualties, including soldiers and civilians.

Nasrallah, a founding member of Hezbollah, had led the group since 1992 after the death of his predecessor, Abbas al-Musawi, who was also killed in an Israeli airstrike.

Israeli officials have hailed Nasrallah’s death as a significant victory in their ongoing campaign against regional threats, particularly in the wake of Hamas’ deadly October 7 assault on Israel. They described Nasrallah as a central figure in Iran’s “Axis of Resistance.”

Following the strike, the IDF issued a warning to Lebanese civilians via its X account, advising them to move away from areas being used by Hezbollah. “Hezbollah has over 150,000 rockets meant to kill Israeli civilians,” the IDF stated, highlighting the strategic placement of these weapons beneath civilian populations.

The killing of Nasrallah was followed by additional bombings in Beirut early Saturday, further intensifying the conflict. The international community has expressed deep concern that these actions could lead to a broader war in the Middle East.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the Security Council on Friday, warning that the violence could push the entire region “into the abyss.” His comments echoed widespread fears that the situation could spiral out of control.

In response to the airstrike, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei convened an emergency session of the Supreme National Security Council on Friday. Shortly after his speech, which dismissed the possibility of a ceasefire, more bombs fell in Beirut.

No official word has been released regarding who will succeed Nasrallah as Hezbollah’s secretary-general.