By Smartencyclopedia with Agencies

Beirut, Sept. 28 – Hassan Nasrallah, the long-serving leader of Hezbollah, has been confirmed dead following a series of Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah strongholds in southern Beirut late Friday night. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the successful assassination of Nasrallah, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Lebanese militant group.

“Hassan Nasrallah is dead,” said IDF spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). Captain David Avraham, another military spokesman, also confirmed the news to AFP, stating that the Hezbollah leader had been “eliminated” during the Friday night strikes.

How the Attack Unfolded

The airstrikes, launched by Israeli warplanes, targeted Hezbollah’s central military headquarters, a heavily fortified underground complex located beneath a residential building in Beirut’s Dahieh district. This area, known as a Hezbollah stronghold, has been the focal point of Israeli operations in recent days. According to Israeli military sources, the operation was based on precise intelligence from Mossad, Israel’s intelligence agency, which confirmed that Hezbollah’s leadership, including Nasrallah, was present inside the facility.

The strikes were part of a broader Israeli campaign aimed at dismantling Hezbollah’s military infrastructure. Witnesses reported seeing multiple residential buildings collapse as a result of the attack, and videos circulating on social media showed the devastation in Dahieh, with smoke billowing over the southern suburbs of Beirut.

In addition to Nasrallah, senior Hezbollah commander Ali Karki was reportedly killed in the strikes, alongside other key figures within the militant group. Israeli media had earlier reported that the operation was a major assassination mission, aimed at decapitating Hezbollah’s leadership.

Impact of Nasrallah’s Death

Nasrallah, a 64-year-old Shiite cleric, had led Hezbollah since 1992 after the assassination of his predecessor, Abbas al-Musawi, by Israeli forces. Over his three-decade tenure, Nasrallah transformed Hezbollah from a Lebanese resistance group into a powerful political and military force with significant regional influence, backed heavily by Iran. He was regarded as the architect of Hezbollah’s military strategy, orchestrating attacks on Israeli soldiers and civilians, as well as terrorist operations abroad.

Under Nasrallah’s leadership, Hezbollah became a dominant force in Lebanon’s political landscape and played a central role in the conflict with Israel. Notably, his leadership culminated in Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000 after years of occupation, a victory that boosted his standing within Lebanon and the wider Arab world.

The IDF stressed that Nasrallah was responsible for orchestrating numerous terrorist attacks and the deaths of both Israeli soldiers and civilians. “He was a key figure behind Hezbollah’s military and terrorist activities,” the IDF said in a statement.

Hezbollah Loses Contact with Nasrallah

As news of Nasrallah’s death spread, a source close to Hezbollah, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that the group had lost contact with its leader since Friday evening. “Contact with Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has been lost since Friday evening,” the source said, neither confirming nor denying the reports of his death.

Israeli Strikes Continue

Following Nasrallah’s reported assassination, Israeli forces launched further airstrikes targeting Hezbollah positions in eastern and southern Lebanon. The IDF confirmed that it had struck “dozens of terror targets” belonging to Hezbollah in the Beqaa Valley in eastern Lebanon and other areas of the south.

Lebanon’s southern regions and Beirut’s southern suburbs have been under intense bombardment, with Israeli airstrikes flattening several buildings. The airstrikes continued into Saturday morning, prompting Hezbollah to retaliate by firing rockets into northern Israel. Air raid sirens were heard across the Israeli cities of Safed and Kiryat Shmona, warning of a potential escalation in the conflict.

Regional Implications

The assassination of Nasrallah could have far-reaching consequences in Lebanon and across the region. As a major figure aligned with Iran, his death may lead to an escalation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, potentially drawing in other regional actors. The situation remains fluid, with both sides poised for further confrontation.

As tensions rise, the international community is closely monitoring the developments, fearing that the conflict could spiral into a broader regional war. With Hezbollah’s leadership now uncertain and Israel continuing its military operations, the coming days could prove critical in determining the future of the conflict.

For now, Nasrallah’s death marks a pivotal moment in the long-standing battle between Israel and Hezbollah, one that could reshape the dynamics of power in Lebanon and beyond.