Lebanon’s Hezbollah confirmed on Saturday that its leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the southern suburbs of Beirut. Lebanon’s Hezbollah confirmed on Saturday that its leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the southern suburbs of Beirut. This marks a major escalation in the ongoing Israel-Hezbollah conflict and is considered a huge blow to the group, which has been a key actor in the region’s “Axis of Resistance,” supported by Iran.
According to the Israelis,
Nasrallah was killed in a targeted strike on Hezbollah’s underground headquarters in Dahiyeh, a Hezbollah-controlled area of Beirut. Senior Hezbollah leader Ali Karaki and other top commanders reportedly were killed in the strike, and Israel charged Hezbollah leadership with operating out of the underground facility to advance plans for the terrorist attacks against Israeli citizens.
The news was provided at a time when the Israeli forces have bombed what appears as a series of continuous airstrikes on Hezbollah-controlled areas of Beirut on Friday and Saturday. The airstrikes were described as the most powerful in nearly a year of conflict with Hezbollah, which parallels the ongoing military operations in Gaza.
Consequences for Hezbollah and the Region
Nasrallah’s death would have significant implications not only for Hezbollah but also for Iran, which has been a key supporter of this organization for decades as a cornerstone of its overall strategy to project influence throughout the Middle East. Hezbollah has played an important role in spreading Iranian influence through military and political avenues in Lebanon, Syria, and other places. Nasrallah’s death thus leaves a power vacuum in Hezbollah, an uncertain future course and prospect for a strong resistance against the operations launched by the Israelis.
As a reaction, Hezbollah promised to keep on fighting against Israel. Hezbollah’s Al-Manar television network confirmed that several key leaders were killed and noted that over seven buildings have been destroyed in the southern suburbs of Beirut. The group denied, however, Israeli claims that those buildings were used as weapons depots or as missile launchers.
Escalation of Violence
Smoke rose from Hezbollah-controlled suburbs in Beirut after more than 20 Israeli airstrikes rattled the city before dawn on Saturday. At least six people died and 91 others were injured by waves of attacks, the Lebanese health ministry confirmed early on Saturday. It warned the authorities that fatalities could well be much higher.
In a related development, the Israeli military expanded its attacks to the Bekaa Valley along the border with Lebanon and Syria. There, the deaths of the missile unit commander for Hezbollah, Muhammad Ali Ismail, and his deputy, Hossein Ahmed Ismail, were reported in strikes this week. Strikes were reported as well to have taken place in the Lebanese town of Bhamdoun, inside the southeast of Beirut, further indicating the scope that is getting bigger for the Israeli campaign against Hezbollah targets.
Displacement and Regional Concerns
Weeks of ever-escalating violence are forcing over 100,000 to flee their homes in Lebanon, worsening a humanitarian crisis in which more than 200,000 are now displaced. Tens of thousands of residents have fled from their homes in the southern suburbs of Beirut to find temporary refuge in downtown squares and along the seacoast.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,
Speaking at the United Nations before cutting short his trip to return to Israel, reminded the international community of the country’s right to defend itself. His statement contained a clear reminder that because of Hezbollah’s actions, it has become impossible not to continue their campaign against Hezbollah even though the international community has been crying out for a ceasefire.
Against this escalated scenario, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for diplomacy, observing that the issue should be settled through dialogue and not force of arm. However, with Hezbollah launching hundreds of rockets and missiles at Israeli targets including Tel Aviv and northern cities like Safed, a ceasefire remains a far cry.