Hezbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah Killed in Israeli Airstrike, Group Vows Retaliation
In a significant escalation of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, Lebanon’s Hezbollah group confirmed that its leader and one of its founders, Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut on Friday. In a statement, Hezbollah said Nasrallah “has joined his fellow martyrs” and vowed to continue the “holy war against the enemy and in support of Palestine.”
Nasrallah, who had led Hezbollah for over three decades, was the most potent figure targeted by Israel in the weeks-long intensification of hostilities between the two sides. The Israeli military confirmed the airstrike, describing it as a precise operation aimed at Hezbollah leaders meeting at their headquarters in Dahiyeh, a southern suburb of Beirut.
Casualties and Iranian Connection
The Lebanese Health Ministry reported six fatalities and 91 injuries in the attack, which leveled six apartment buildings. Along with Nasrallah, Ali Karki, the commander of Hezbollah’s Southern Front, and other senior commanders were killed, according to Israeli military sources.
Iran also announced the death of a prominent general in its Revolutionary Guard, Abbas Nilforushan, who was among those killed in the strike. Nilforushan was a high-ranking official within the Guard, serving as the deputy commander for operations, and had been sanctioned by the U.S.
Israel’s Response
Following the airstrike, Israel’s military emphasized its commitment to continuing its campaign against Hezbollah. Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, an Israeli army spokesperson, revealed that the operation to eliminate Nasrallah resulted from years of tracking his movements, coupled with real-time intelligence. Shoshani declined to disclose the specific weapons used in the strike or provide a precise estimate of civilian casualties, stating that Israel takes steps to avoid civilian harm whenever possible.
Israel’s Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, stated that Nasrallah’s death marks a significant blow to Hezbollah but that further operations would follow. “This is not the end of our toolbox,” he said. At the same time, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant hailed the airstrike as “the most important targeted operation since the founding of the State of Israel.”
Fallout and Regional Tensions
Nasrallah’s assassination marks a dangerous escalation in a region already fraught with violence. Air raid sirens blared across central Israel, including at Tel Aviv’s international airport, shortly after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned from a trip to the U.S. The Israeli military also reported intercepting a missile launched from Yemen, although it is unclear if the rocket was intended to target Netanyahu’s flight.
In the immediate aftermath of Nasrallah’s death, Hezbollah supporters fired guns into the air across Beirut in mourning, while shocked travelers at Lebanon’s main international airport scrambled to leave the country. Hundreds of demonstrators in Iran, a key backer of Hezbollah, took to the streets, chanting “Death to Israel” and “Death to Netanyahu.”
A Critical Moment for Hezbollah
The loss of Hassan Nasrallah is a critical blow to Hezbollah, which has long been a dominant political and military force in Lebanon. Nasrallah was viewed as the face of Hezbollah’s militant resistance against Israel and a key figure in supporting Palestinian groups like Hamas. The question now is whether Hezbollah will escalate its military response or face a period of internal reorganization.
Analysts like Orna Mizrahi, a senior researcher at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies, suggest that Nasrallah’s death could spur more hardline elements within Hezbollah to retaliate more aggressively. However, it may also offer a moment of opportunity for Lebanon to weaken Hezbollah’s hold over its southern territories, which have long been a flashpoint in the group’s conflict with Israel.
Escalation of Conflict
Saturday saw continued violence, with over 140 Israeli airstrikes hitting southern Beirut and Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley. Hezbollah responded by launching dozens of rockets into northern and central Israel, damaging buildings in the town of Safed. The Israeli military also mobilized additional reserve soldiers to bolster its northern defenses.
As fighting intensifies, the death toll continues to rise. Lebanon’s health minister reported that over 1,000 people have been killed in Israeli strikes over the past two weeks, including many women and children.
A Path Forward?
While both sides appear entrenched in their positions, the assassination of Nasrallah may open a window for de-escalation, depending on how Hezbollah’s leadership and Iran choose to respond. Experts believe Iran faces significant constraints in how far it can push back against Israel without risking a broader regional war. The next few days will likely determine whether this conflict spirals further or if international mediation can temporarily halt the hostilities.