Israel Claims Significant Victory by Targeting Hezbollah Leader Nasrallah
On Saturday, Israel announced the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, marking what could be the most substantial blow to the Lebanese militant group amid ongoing conflict. The Israeli military asserted that a precise airstrike was executed on Friday while Hezbollah's leadership convened at their headquarters in Dahiyeh, south of Beirut. However, there has yet to be any confirmation from Hezbollah regarding the claim.
Israeli Chief of Staff Lt Gen Herzi Halevi indicated that the elimination of Nasrallah does not signify an end to Israeli military operations, stating that further strikes are anticipated. The military described the airstrike as a culmination of extensive intelligence preparation and targeting, which included the tracking of Nasrallah over a prolonged period.
In the aftermath of the strike, the Lebanese Health Ministry reported that at least six individuals were killed and over 90 others injured, with six apartment blocks destroyed in the attack. Among the fatalities, Ali Karki, the Commander of Hezbollah's Southern Front, and additional commanders were allegedly neutralized.
As tensions escalate with Lebanon, the Israeli military announced the mobilization of extra reserve soldiers, deploying three battalions nationwide following prior deployments in northern Israel for potential ground invasion preparations. Lt Col Nadav Shoshani noted that the airstrike on Nasrallah was informed by years of intelligence-gathering, asserting that various intelligence types have confirmed Nasrallah's death.
Despite the significant damage inflicted on Hezbollah's capabilities, Shoshani cautioned that much of the group's arsenal remains intact, emphasizing that Israel plans to continue targeting them. He suggested that retaliatory actions from Hezbollah should be expected, maintaining a high state of readiness within Israeli forces. "This threat hasn’t dissipated," he stated, expressing hope that Nasrallah's apparent elimination could reshape Hezbollah's operational choices.
Shoshani articulated that the ongoing conflict has led to the evacuation of approximately 60,000 Israelis residing near the Lebanese border, reinforcing that stifling Hezbollah’s aggressiveness in the north remains a key war objective for the Israeli government.
Following the airstrikes, which also took place in southern Beirut and eastern Lebanon's Bekaa Valley, Hezbollah retaliated with numerous projectiles aimed at northern and central Israel, extending into the Israel-occupied West Bank. In southern Beirut, heavy airstrikes left the area in ruins, with smoke billowing through empty streets as displaced residents sought refuge in overflowing shelters.
Recent reports indicate that over 720 casualties have occurred in Lebanon as a result of Israeli airstrikes within a week. The situation remains dire, prompting families to flee toward the mountains, carrying only essentials as they sought safety from the intensifying conflict.
Orna Mizrahi, a senior researcher from the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv and a former intelligence analyst, described Nasrallah's reported death as a historical moment, noting he sometimes acted as a 'voice of reason' within Hezbollah. Mizrahi raised concerns that without Nasrallah, more radical factions within Hezbollah may resort to using their more potent weaponry, which could increase the scale of hostilities in the region.
The potential reaction from Iran remains a critical question, as Mizrahi suggested that Nasrallah's death might present an opportunity to weaken Hezbollah’s influence in Lebanon further, particularly in the south. As the Israeli military braces for possible consequences from this escalation, both regional stability and the humanitarian situation in Lebanon hang in the balance.
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