Beirut — September 28, 2024: The Israeli military announced on Saturday that it had successfully eliminated Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in a targeted airstrike on Beirut.
The Hezbollah chief, who has been a prominent figure in the Iran-backed militant group for decades, was reportedly killed in a bombing late Friday.
As of Saturday morning, Hezbollah has yet to release a statement confirming or denying the death of its leader, intensifying the speculation about the group’s next steps in the ongoing conflict with Israel.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the operation in an official statement, with military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani taking to X (formerly Twitter) to announce, “Hassan Nasrallah is dead.”
This was later echoed by Captain David Avraham, who informed AFP that Nasrallah had been “eliminated” during the strikes on Hezbollah strongholds in southern Beirut.
The airstrikes, which continued into the early hours of Saturday, targeted key Hezbollah locations after the Israeli Army ordered residents to evacuate three buildings ahead of the bombardment.
Uncertainty in Hezbollah’s Ranks
While Israel has officially declared Nasrallah’s death, Hezbollah has not yet responded with any official confirmation. An unnamed source close to the militant group, quoted by AFP, stated that contact had been lost with Nasrallah since Friday evening.
“Contact with Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has been lost since Friday evening,” the source stated, adding that they could not yet confirm his death. The lack of an immediate response from Hezbollah has left the group’s supporters and opponents alike in a state of uncertainty.
The potential death of Nasrallah marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which began when the militant group launched rockets into northern Israel in solidarity with Hamas following the October 7 Israel-Hamas war outbreak.
Nasrallah, who has been a symbol of resistance against Israel for many in Lebanon and beyond, has been a target of Israel for years due to Hezbollah’s militant activities, which Israel views as a direct threat to its security.
Israeli Response and Escalation
Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, cut short his trip to the United States after delivering a speech at the United Nations on Friday.
In his address, Netanyahu vowed to continue Israel’s military campaign against Hezbollah and to intensify operations in Lebanon if the group’s attacks did not cease.
Following the announcement of Nasrallah’s death, the Israeli Defense Forces took to X, stating, “Hassan Nasrallah will no longer be able to terrorize the world.”
This has heightened tensions in the region and cast further doubt on the potential for an internationally brokered ceasefire.
In addition to the military strikes, Israeli officials have hinted that the level of destruction seen in Gaza since the conflict began earlier this month could be replicated in Lebanon if Hezbollah continues its rocket fire.
Israel’s threat of a broader military campaign has raised concerns about the humanitarian impact on the Lebanese civilian population, which is already facing significant challenges as the conflict escalates.
Humanitarian Impact
Since the fighting intensified earlier this week, the toll on Lebanon has been severe. According to Lebanon’s health ministry, over 720 people have been killed in the country, with many more injured as Israeli airstrikes continue to target Hezbollah positions.
The United Nations reports that more than 211,000 people have been displaced from southern Lebanon due to the violence, a figure that has more than doubled since the start of the conflict.
The humanitarian situation in Lebanon is rapidly deteriorating, with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stating that at least 20 primary healthcare centers have been forced to shut down in heavily affected areas.
Aid organizations have warned that the continuing violence is making it increasingly difficult to provide assistance to those in need, further exacerbating the crisis.
Regional Fallout
The potential killing of Hassan Nasrallah is likely to have major ramifications not only for Lebanon but also for the wider region.
Hezbollah’s role in the broader geopolitical struggle between Israel and Iran, which has long supported the group financially and militarily, could lead to further destabilization across the Middle East.
With Hezbollah’s future leadership uncertain, observers are closely watching Tehran’s response as the conflict continues to unfold.
As of now, both Hezbollah and its backers in Iran remain silent on Nasrallah’s fate. The coming hours and days will likely determine whether his death will lead to further escalation or an eventual de-escalation of hostilities.
For now, the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah remains volatile, with no clear end in sight.