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Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah | Image/AP(File)
The IDF announces the elimination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in a targeted airstrike in Beirut
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Saturday announced the killing of top Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah during a targeted airstrike in Beirut. With Nasrallah’s death, the IDF has eliminated the top chain of command of the Iranian-backed group. In a post on the social media platform X, IDF said “Nasrallah will no longer be able to terrorise the world.”
‘New Order’
The strike, which also killed Ali Karki, the Commander of Hezbollah’s Southern Front, was carried out by Israeli Air Force (IAF) fighter jets at the group’s Central Headquarters, reportedly located underground beneath a residential building in the Dahieh area. The name of the Israeli military operation that reportedly assassinated Nasrallah is named “New Order.”
The Israeli @IDF confirms that Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the Hezbollah terrorist organization and one of its founders, was eliminated yesterday, together with Ali Karki, the Commander of Hezbollah’s Southern Front, and additional Hezbollah commanders.Nasrallah will no… pic.twitter.com/aThduf0bwe
— Israel Israel (@Israel) September 28, 2024
’32-year as Hezbollah Secretary-General’
The strike was conducted after Israel had precise intelligence indicating that senior Hezbollah commanders were present at the location, actively planning terrorist activities against Israel.
“During Hassan Nastallah’s 32-year reign as the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, he was responsible for the murder of many Israeli civilians and soldiers, and the planning and execution of thousands of terrorist activities,” the IDF said in a statement confirming Nastallah’s killing.
The Israeli military said Nasrallah was responsible for directing and executing terrorist attacks around the world in which civilians of various nationalities were murdered. “Nasrallah was the central decision-maker and the strategic leader of the organisation,” the IDF said.
‘Unprovoked attacks’
In the statement, the Israeli military said Hezbollah joined Hamas in the Gaza conflict and has continued “unprovoked attacks” on the citizens of the State of Israel.
“The Hezbollah terrorist organisation, headed by Hassan Nasrallah, joined the Hamas terrorist organization in its war against the State of Israel on October 8th. Since then, Hezbollah has been continuing its ongoing and unprovoked attacks on the citizens of the State of Israel, dragging the State of Lebanon and the entire region into a wider escalation,” it added.
The announcement of Hezbollah chief’s killing comes as Israeli airstrikes targeted Beirut for five hours early Saturday, following Friday’s attack, which was the most powerful by Israel on the city during its conflict with Hezbollah, unfolding alongside the Gaza war.
How Iran Reacted
The escalation has raised fears that the conflict could spiral out of control, potentially drawing in Iran, Hezbollah’s principal backer, as well as the United States, Israel’s ally.
Earlier, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had called an emergency session of the country’s Supreme National Security Council at his home Friday, The New York Times reported, citing two Iranian officials with knowledge of the meeting.
After the news of Nasrallah’s killing was confirmed by Israel, the Iranian news agency IRNA said that all claims of his death were “baseless” until an official statement issued by Hezbollah.
