Israel’s military announced on 28 September 2024 that it successfully killed Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, in a targeted airstrike in Beirut.
The strike, carried out on Friday, hit Hezbollah’s central headquarters, which the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated was embedded beneath a residential building in the southern suburbs of the city, a stronghold for the group.
Hezbollah confirmed Nasrallah’s death, declaring in a statement that its longtime leader had “joined his fellow martyrs.”
Two U.S. officials also corroborated the event to CBS News, adding that the strike also killed other senior Hezbollah commanders, including Ali Karki, the commander of Hezbollah’s Southern Front.
The airstrike comes amid heightened tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, as the militant group has intensified its rocket and drone attacks on northern Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in his first public statement following the assassination, said that Israel had “no choice but to target Nasrallah,” asserting that his elimination was crucial to achieving Israel’s military objectives. Netanyahu emphasized that Hezbollah’s ongoing attacks and threats left Israel with no alternative.
חיסלנו את נסראללה. ממשיכים >> pic.twitter.com/pOdJS5Jl5k
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) September 28, 2024
Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, the Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army, highlighted that Nasrallah’s death sent a clear message: “Anyone who threatens the citizens of Israel — we will know how to reach them.”
According to Israeli officials, the strike was made possible by real-time intelligence that identified an operational opportunity to target Hezbollah’s senior chain of command.
This airstrike is part of a larger Israeli campaign aimed at degrading Hezbollah’s military capabilities, which have been increasingly active since Hamas began its war against Israel in October 2023.
Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have displaced over 200,000 Lebanese civilians, while tens of thousands of Israelis have been forced to leave their homes near the northern border. The United Nations has been monitoring the conflict closely, given the growing humanitarian toll on both sides.
The death of Nasrallah, who led Hezbollah for over three decades, represents a significant leadership gap for the group. Known for his fiery rhetoric and threats against Israel and the U.S., Nasrallah often remained hidden, delivering speeches only via video link to avoid assassination.
His death leaves uncertainty over who will assume leadership of Hezbollah, a group widely recognized as the strongest paramilitary force in the Middle East.
In response to the assassination, Hezbollah issued a statement pledging to “continue the holy war against the enemy and in support of Palestine.”
The militant organization, which maintains close ties with Iran, also received strong support from Tehran. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in his first public remarks since Nasrallah’s death, called on all Muslims to stand by Hezbollah. He vowed that Iran would back the group, although no specifics were provided regarding potential military responses.
Further complicating the situation, a senior Iranian general, Abbas Nilforoushan, was also reportedly killed in the same airstrike.
General Nilforoushan, a high-ranking member of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps and a close ally of Qassem Soleimani, had been involved in Hezbollah’s operations, according to Iranian state media. His death adds another dimension to the growing regional conflict.
Lebanese health officials reported that the airstrike also resulted in the deaths of at least 11 civilians, with 108 others wounded.
The explosions levelled several high-rise residential buildings, marking some of the heaviest bombings Beirut has seen since Hezbollah began its assaults on Israel in 2023. Local authorities fear the death toll could rise as rescue operations continue to dig through the rubble.
International reaction to the airstrike has been mixed. The United States confirmed its support for Israel’s right to self-defense, with President Biden calling Nasrallah’s death “a measure of justice for his many victims.”
The White House confirmed it had no advance knowledge of the attack but assured the public that U.S. forces in the region had been placed on high alert.
Biden also emphasized the need for diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation in both Lebanon and Gaza, expressing hope for a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel.
However, Israeli officials have expressed skepticism about the prospect of a truce, especially in light of the recent escalation. Netanyahu, in his address to the United Nations shortly before Nasrallah’s death, reaffirmed that Israel would continue its military operations until its objectives were met.
With Hezbollah vowing retaliation and Israeli forces on high alert, the situation remains volatile. Israel has already deployed additional battalions to the northern border, with discussions of a possible ground incursion into Lebanon to push Hezbollah forces further from Israeli territory.
As the conflict intensifies, the international community is closely monitoring developments in both Lebanon and Gaza, with fears of a broader regional war growing.
The death of Nasrallah, a key figure in the Lebanese militant landscape, may significantly shift the dynamics in the ongoing conflict, but its full implications remain to be seen.
