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Israel says it has killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah Israel says it has killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah
(32 minutes later)
IDF says southern front commander Ali Karki and other senior leaders killed in bombing of Beirut headquartersIDF says southern front commander Ali Karki and other senior leaders killed in bombing of Beirut headquarters
The Israeli military has said it has killed Hezbollah’s leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, in a series of strikes on the group’s underground headquarters in Beirut. Hezbollah’s veteran leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, who led the group for more than three decades, was killed by Israel in a series of strikes on Friday on the group’s underground headquarters in Beirut, Israel and Hezbollah have confirmed.
The announcement by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Saturday morning came after overnight speculation about the fate of Nasrallah, following the strikes in Dahieh, a southern suburb of the Lebanese capital. The death of the Hezbollah leader, who has led the Iran-backed group for three decades, will mark a major escalation in the crisis in the Middle East. The announcement by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Saturday morning came after overnight speculation about the fate of Nasrallah, following the strikes in Dahieh, a southern suburb of the Lebanese capital.
Responding to the claimed assassination, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called on Muslims “to stand by the people of Lebanon and the proud Hezbollah with whatever means they have and assist them in confronting the … wicked regime (of Israel)”. Later on Saturday Hezbollah, backed by Iran, which considers the Lebanon-based group one of its most significant assets, confirmed his death, saying Nasrallah “had joined his fellow martyrs” and adding the group would “continue the holy war against the enemy and in support of Palestine”.
The statement, however, did not mention who would succeed Nasrallah, or how the group would respond to the assassination.
Gunfire could be heard across Beirut on Saturday afternoon as mourners fired in the air to commemorate his death.
France also confirmed that it believed Nasrallah had been killed. “According to the information we have, Hassan Nasrallah, secretary general of Hezbollah, would indeed have died,” the French foreign ministry said in a statement.
The confirmed death of the Hezbollah leader marks a major escalation in the crisis in the Middle East and threatens to reshape the course of events in the region where Nasrallah was a significant actor.
Responding to the assassination, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called on Muslims “to stand by the people of Lebanon and the proud Hezbollah with whatever means they have and assist them in confronting the … wicked regime [of Israel]”.
Khamenei, who Reuters reported had been transferred to a secure location inside Iran, did not mention Nasrallah in his comments. He added: “The fate of this region will be determined by the forces of resistance, with Hezbollah at the forefront.” Israeli “criminals must know that they are far too small to cause any significant damage on the strongholds of Hezbollah in Lebanon,” he said. “All the resistance forces in the region support and stand alongside Hezbollah.”Khamenei, who Reuters reported had been transferred to a secure location inside Iran, did not mention Nasrallah in his comments. He added: “The fate of this region will be determined by the forces of resistance, with Hezbollah at the forefront.” Israeli “criminals must know that they are far too small to cause any significant damage on the strongholds of Hezbollah in Lebanon,” he said. “All the resistance forces in the region support and stand alongside Hezbollah.”
The attack threatens to draw in Iran, Hezbollah’s principal backer, which thus far has been reluctant to involve itself in the fighting with Israel.The attack threatens to draw in Iran, Hezbollah’s principal backer, which thus far has been reluctant to involve itself in the fighting with Israel.
According to sources in Israel, the Israeli security cabinet had previously pulled back from plans to kill Nasrallah, but having established that he was due to attend a meeting at the command complex, approved a plan to kill him in an operation reportedly codenamed “New Order”.According to sources in Israel, the Israeli security cabinet had previously pulled back from plans to kill Nasrallah, but having established that he was due to attend a meeting at the command complex, approved a plan to kill him in an operation reportedly codenamed “New Order”.
Reports in the Israeli media said the assassination had been carried out by a squadron of F15I jets equipped with bunker-busting bombs although Israel refused to comment on claims they were US-supplied type 84 munitions.Reports in the Israeli media said the assassination had been carried out by a squadron of F15I jets equipped with bunker-busting bombs although Israel refused to comment on claims they were US-supplied type 84 munitions.
The news was initially broken by the military spokesperson Lt Col Nadav Shoshani in a brief post on X saying: “Hassan Nasrallah is dead.” The news was initially broken by the military spokesperson Lt Col Nadav Shoshani in a brief post on X saying: “Hassan Nasrallah is dead.” In a statement issued shortly afterwards, the IDF said Nasrallah had been killed along with Hezbollah’s southern front commander, Ali Karki, and other commanders attending the meeting.
In a statement issued shortly afterwards, the IDF said Nasrallah had been killed along with Hezbollah’s southern front commander, Ali Karki, and other commanders attending the meeting.
“Following precise intelligence from the IDF and the Israeli security establishment, IAF [Israeli air force] fighter jets conducted a targeted strike on the central headquarters of the Hezbollah terrorist organisation which was located underground, embedded under a residential building in the Dahieh area of Beirut,” the statement said.“Following precise intelligence from the IDF and the Israeli security establishment, IAF [Israeli air force] fighter jets conducted a targeted strike on the central headquarters of the Hezbollah terrorist organisation which was located underground, embedded under a residential building in the Dahieh area of Beirut,” the statement said.
“The strike was conducted while Hezbollah’s senior chain of command was operating from the headquarters and advancing terrorist activities against citizens of the state of Israel.”“The strike was conducted while Hezbollah’s senior chain of command was operating from the headquarters and advancing terrorist activities against citizens of the state of Israel.”
The Israeli military said it was on “high alert” and prepared for a wider escalation.The Israeli military said it was on “high alert” and prepared for a wider escalation.
Hezbollah has yet to make a statement on Israel’s claim that it had killed Nasrallah.
The IDF spokesperson Shoshani later predicted that despite Nasrallah’s killing, Hezbollah would continue to target Israel. “We’ve seen Hezbollah carry out attacks against us for a year. It’s safe to assume that they are going to continue carrying out their attacks against us, or try to,” he said.The IDF spokesperson Shoshani later predicted that despite Nasrallah’s killing, Hezbollah would continue to target Israel. “We’ve seen Hezbollah carry out attacks against us for a year. It’s safe to assume that they are going to continue carrying out their attacks against us, or try to,” he said.
In Lebanon, residents reacted to the news of the assassination with shock, unwilling to believe Israel’s claims. In Lebanon, residents reacted to the news of the assassination with shock, unwilling to believe Israel’s claims. After Israel’s announcement, the streets of Beirut emptied. Storefronts in Gemayzeh – an upmarket neighbourhood in east Beirut – were mostly closed.
After Israel’s announcement, the streets of Beirut emptied. Storefronts in Gemayzeh – an upmarket neighbourhood in east Beirut – were mostly closed. The Lebanese army deployed throughout Beirut on Saturday afternoon, standing guard at major intersections throughout the city, likely in anticipation of public reaction. Lines formed at supermarkets as people rushed to buy basic goods such as water and dried foods, while people waited in queues outside cash machines. The buzz of low-flying Israeli drones patrolling the skies was a constant sound throughout the day.
Lebanon’s cabinet announced it would convene for an extraordinary session at 7.30pm local time in response to the events of the last two days.
In Dahieh one resident told the Guardian: “I’m in despair, I don’t know what to feel.” Other supporters of the group struck a different tone. “The group will go on, it’s not just centred around one leader,” Fatimah, a resident of Dahieh, said from her car in downtown Beirut where she has been sleeping with her husband and son since the strikes on Dahieh started last week.In Dahieh one resident told the Guardian: “I’m in despair, I don’t know what to feel.” Other supporters of the group struck a different tone. “The group will go on, it’s not just centred around one leader,” Fatimah, a resident of Dahieh, said from her car in downtown Beirut where she has been sleeping with her husband and son since the strikes on Dahieh started last week.
The second in command in the organisation, Hashem Safieddine, who could succeed Nasrallah, was reportedly also targeted in Israel’s airstrike on Beirut on Friday. It is not known how the next leader of Hezbollah might govern the group and how they will choose to retaliate for Nasrallah’s killing. The second in command in the organisation, Hashem Safieddine, who could succeed Nasrallah, was reportedly also targeted in Israel’s airstrike on Beirut on Friday.
The IDF’s chief of staff, Herzi Halevi, said on Saturday that the elimination of Nasrallah was “not the end of our toolbox”, indicating that more strikes were planned. He said the strike targeting the Hezbollah leadership was the result of a long period of preparation.The IDF’s chief of staff, Herzi Halevi, said on Saturday that the elimination of Nasrallah was “not the end of our toolbox”, indicating that more strikes were planned. He said the strike targeting the Hezbollah leadership was the result of a long period of preparation.
The military said it was mobilising additional reserve soldiers as tensions escalated with Lebanon, activating three battalions of reserve soldiers to serve across Israel. It sent two brigades to northern Israel earlier in the week to train for a possible ground invasion.The military said it was mobilising additional reserve soldiers as tensions escalated with Lebanon, activating three battalions of reserve soldiers to serve across Israel. It sent two brigades to northern Israel earlier in the week to train for a possible ground invasion.
Shortly before the strike, the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, vowed during a speech at the UN general assembly to keep fighting in Lebanon, crushing hopes that Israel would agree to a 21-day truce proposed by the US and France.Shortly before the strike, the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, vowed during a speech at the UN general assembly to keep fighting in Lebanon, crushing hopes that Israel would agree to a 21-day truce proposed by the US and France.
“There is no place in Iran that the long arm of Israel cannot reach, and that is true of the entire Middle East,” Netanyahu said in New York.“There is no place in Iran that the long arm of Israel cannot reach, and that is true of the entire Middle East,” Netanyahu said in New York.
Among Hezbollah’s constituents, Nasrallah was viewed with a prophet-like fervour, seen as the liberator of south Lebanon from Israel’s 18-year occupation. At Hezbollah rallies, supporters chant “Labaik ya Hussein and Labaik ya Nasrallah” – “O Hussein, O Nasrallah, I am here for you” – shouting their devotion to Hussein, a key figure in Shia Islam, and Nasrallah.Among Hezbollah’s constituents, Nasrallah was viewed with a prophet-like fervour, seen as the liberator of south Lebanon from Israel’s 18-year occupation. At Hezbollah rallies, supporters chant “Labaik ya Hussein and Labaik ya Nasrallah” – “O Hussein, O Nasrallah, I am here for you” – shouting their devotion to Hussein, a key figure in Shia Islam, and Nasrallah.
When Nasrallah spoke in televised addresses, supporters would tune in for guidance on political, spiritual and cultural issues. Many Lebanese attribute the failure of the 2019 revolution to a speech by Nasrallah, when he told his supporters it was time to get off the streets, depriving the protest movement of its non-sectarian character.When Nasrallah spoke in televised addresses, supporters would tune in for guidance on political, spiritual and cultural issues. Many Lebanese attribute the failure of the 2019 revolution to a speech by Nasrallah, when he told his supporters it was time to get off the streets, depriving the protest movement of its non-sectarian character.
Whoever replaces the enigmatic former secretary general will have to deal with an organisation that over the last year, has lost almost every senior military leader and is on the back foot from the Israeli bombing campaign.Whoever replaces the enigmatic former secretary general will have to deal with an organisation that over the last year, has lost almost every senior military leader and is on the back foot from the Israeli bombing campaign.
The death also throws the fate of the Lebanese state into question. Hezbollah is deeply embedded in the state, controlling a key share of parliament and exercising influence over several ministries, such as the directorate of general security. Lebanon’s foreign policy is largely dictated by the group, particularly when it comes to neighbouring states such as Israel.The death also throws the fate of the Lebanese state into question. Hezbollah is deeply embedded in the state, controlling a key share of parliament and exercising influence over several ministries, such as the directorate of general security. Lebanon’s foreign policy is largely dictated by the group, particularly when it comes to neighbouring states such as Israel.
Hezbollah began firing into Israel one day after Hamas’s 7 October attack on southern Israel that sparked the war in Gaza.Hezbollah began firing into Israel one day after Hamas’s 7 October attack on southern Israel that sparked the war in Gaza.
Israel has in recent days shifted the focus of its operation from Gaza to Lebanon, where heavy bombing has killed more than 700 people and displaced about 118,000.Israel has in recent days shifted the focus of its operation from Gaza to Lebanon, where heavy bombing has killed more than 700 people and displaced about 118,000.