Beirut – Hezbollah’s Secretary-General, Hassan Nasrallah, has reportedly been killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut, according to a statement from the Israeli military released today. Communication with the 64-year-old Nasrallah has been lost since Friday night, a source close to Hezbollah told AFP.
“Hassan Nasrallah is dead,” Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani, a spokesperson for the Israeli military, announced on X. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) issued a statement declaring, “Hassan Nasrallah will no longer be able to terrorise the world.”
The attack follows a wave of retaliatory strikes, hours after Hezbollah claimed responsibility for launching rockets into northern Israel. One of the rockets targeted the Israeli kibbutz Kabri, utilizing Fadi-1 missiles, which Hezbollah stated were in response to Israeli “barbaric” aggression in Lebanon.
Nasrallah, a powerful figure in Lebanon, especially among the country’s Shiite population, has long been considered a central figure capable of either waging war or brokering peace in the region. His leadership spanned over three decades as head of Hezbollah, during which he directed numerous military operations against Israel.
Unconfirmed reports suggest Nasrallah’s daughter, Zainab, was killed in the same airstrikes that targeted Hezbollah strongholds in southern Beirut. Israel’s Channel 12 broadcasted the report, though neither Hezbollah nor Lebanese media have confirmed the information.
This is not the first time Nasrallah has been rumoured dead. In 2006, following Israel’s invasion of Lebanon, similar reports emerged, only for the Hezbollah leader to reappear unharmed days later.
Israeli strikes also reportedly killed Ali Karake, the commander of Hezbollah’s southern front, along with several other high-ranking Hezbollah members. The Israeli military released a statement holding Nasrallah responsible for numerous terror attacks worldwide over his 32-year leadership. “He was responsible for directing and executing terrorist attacks around the world in which civilians of various nationalities were murdered,” the statement read.
Tensions along the Lebanese-Israeli border escalated rapidly after the strikes. Air raid sirens were heard across northern Israel, warning of incoming rocket fire from Lebanon. Israeli reports confirm that two surface-to-surface missiles were launched, one of which fell in an open area while the other was intercepted by Israel’s missile defense system.
Lebanon’s health ministry has responded to the increasing violence by ordering the evacuation of hospitals in Beirut’s southern suburbs, anticipating further conflict. The ministry has also urged unaffected hospitals to prioritize emergency cases and prepare for the relocation of patients from heavily impacted areas.
The ongoing Israeli bombing campaign in Lebanon has claimed the lives of over 700 people and displaced more than 118,000, raising fears of a further escalation in the region.
Key Notes:
- Hassan Nasrallah’s Death: Hezbollah’s Secretary-General, Hassan Nasrallah, was reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut. Communication with him has been lost since Friday night.
- Israeli Confirmation: Israeli military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani confirmed Nasrallah’s death on social media, stating that Nasrallah “will no longer be able to terrorise the world.”
- Retaliatory Strikes: The Israeli airstrikes followed Hezbollah’s rocket attacks on northern Israel, targeting locations such as the kibbutz Kabri with Fadi-1 rockets.
- Nasrallah’s Influence: Nasrallah, who had led Hezbollah for 32 years, held significant power among Lebanon’s Shiite population and was a key figure in the region’s military and political landscape.
- Unconfirmed Reports: Israel’s Channel 12 reported that Nasrallah’s daughter Zainab was also killed in the strikes, though there has been no confirmation from Hezbollah or Lebanese media.
- Historical Precedent: This is not the first time Nasrallah has been rumoured to be dead. In 2006, after Israel’s invasion of Lebanon, similar reports surfaced, but he reappeared unhurt.
- Hezbollah Casualties: Other Hezbollah members, including Ali Karake, commander of the southern front, were also reportedly killed in the airstrikes.
- Rocket Attacks on Israel: Two surface-to-surface missiles were fired from Lebanon into Israel; one landed in an open area while the other was intercepted.
- Health Ministry Response: Lebanon’s health ministry has ordered the evacuation of hospitals in Beirut’s southern suburbs, preparing for further escalation and ensuring space for casualties from the conflict.
- Humanitarian Impact: The Israeli airstrikes have killed more than 700 people in Lebanon and displaced approximately 118,000, with fears of further escalation in the region.
