Hezbollah leader Nasrallah killed in Israeli Airstrike

Hezbollah leader Nasrallah killed in Israeli Airstrike

Israel killed Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in a powerful airstrike on Beirut, delivering a significant blow to the Iran-backed organization amid a surge of Israeli attacks.

On Saturday, the Israeli military confirmed that Nasrallah was eliminated in the strike on Hezbollah’s central command in Beirut’s southern suburbs on Friday. Hezbollah acknowledged his death but did not provide details on the circumstances.

Nasrallah’s death marks a severe setback for both Hezbollah and Iran, as he was a key figure in shaping Hezbollah into a pivotal component of Tehran's network of allied groups across the Arab world.

U.S. President Joe Biden referred to Nasrallah's death as a form of justice for his numerous victims, which included thousands of Americans, Israelis, and Lebanese.

Iranian media reported that Abbas Nilforoushan, a senior deputy commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, was also killed in the Israeli airstrikes on Beirut on Friday.

Airstrikes continued on Beirut’s southern suburbs into Saturday evening, with large plumes of smoke rising over the city.

The Israeli military announced it had also killed a senior Hezbollah intelligence member, Hassan Khalil Yassin, in another strike on southern Beirut, though Hezbollah has not confirmed this.

In Israel, air raid sirens were heard across central regions, including Tel Aviv, following the interception of a missile fired from Yemen, according to the Israeli military.

Hezbollah vowed to continue its resistance against Israel "in support of Gaza and Palestine, and in defense of Lebanon and its dignified people."

Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati warned of imminent danger but did not mention Nasrallah’s death directly. His office later declared three days of national mourning for the Hezbollah leader.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed revenge for Nasrallah's killing and affirmed that other militants would continue his fight against Israel.