Hezbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah Killed in Israeli Airstrike

In a significant escalation of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the Iran-backed militant group, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut. The death of Nasrallah, confirmed by both Israeli and Hezbollah sources, marks a pivotal moment in the decades-long hostilities.

• Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, was killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting Hezbollah’s central headquarters in Beirut’s Dahieh district.
• Israeli Defense Forces confirmed the strike was part of a broader effort to target Iranian-backed militants, leading to Nasrallah’s death, along with two others, and injuring dozens.
• The airstrike came after a series of explosions targeting Hezbollah leaders across Lebanon, killing 12 people, including Hezbollah members and civilians.
• President Biden called Nasrallah’s death a “measure of justice,” affirming U.S. support for Israel while urging for diplomatic de-escalation.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) targeted Nasrallah in a precise strike on Hezbollah’s central headquarters, located in the densely populated Dahieh district of Beirut. The headquarters, built under residential buildings, were part of Hezbollah’s strategy to use civilians as human shields, according to IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari. The airstrike resulted in the deaths of at least two people and injured dozens, as reported by Lebanon’s health ministry.

As Reuters reported, the attack has been the heaviest in Beirut in almost a year of conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. The strikes came shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue targeting Iranian-backed fighters in Lebanon during a United Nations speech, despite fading hopes for a cease-fire.

The airstrike on Nasrallah followed a series of explosions targeting Hezbollah leaders, starting with the detonation of numerous pagers across Lebanon on September 18. These explosions killed at least 12 people, including Hezbollah members and two children, and wounded several thousand, according to Lebanon’s public health minister.

Nasrallah, a polarizing figure, was revered by many in the Middle East for his role in expelling Israeli troops from southern Lebanon in 2000. However, he was also responsible for numerous attacks, including the bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in Lebanon in the early ’80s, which killed over 200 U.S. servicemen.

President Biden, in a statement, called Nasrallah’s death a “measure of justice” for his many victims. The President emphasized the U.S. administration’s support for Israel’s right to defend itself against groups like Hezbollah and Hamas. He also highlighted the need for de-escalation through diplomatic means, as reported by CBS News.