Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has been killed after airstrikes in Beirut, the Israeli army has said.
Recent weeks have seen Israel unleash a barrage of strikes against Lebanon after it turned its attention to the conflict at its northern border.
On Saturday, Israel targeted the capital Beirut with a series of attacks claiming to have struck the central headquarters of Hezbollah.
People stand near a picture of Nasrallah during the funeral of a Hezbollah member. Pic: Reuters
People watch Hassan Nasrallah delivering a televised address, as they sit at a cafe in Beirut. Pic: Reuters
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it carried out a “precise strike” on Hezbollah’s “central headquarters”, which it claimed was “embedded under residential buildings in the heart of the Dahieh in Beirut”.
The first wave of attacks shook windows across the city and sent thick clouds of smoke billowing into the air.
While Israel stressed it had been a “precise” strike, preliminary figures from Lebanon’s health ministry confirmed at least six other people were killed and 91 were wounded.
Israel said Nasrallah was the intended target and initially there were claims he had survived.
However, after several hours of confusion, his death was confirmed by Israel.
“Hassan Nasrallah will no longer be able to terrorise the world,” the IDF said.
Hezbollah itself is yet to issue a clarifying statement on its leader’s fate.
Recent days have seen Israel launch strikes in Beirut, the Bekaa Valley, and Bhamdoun
The Israeli strike that allegedly took Nasrallah’s life was on residential buildings in Dahieh, Beirut
Alongside claiming to have killed Nasrallah, the IDF said it had killed a number of other commanders, including Ali Karaki, the commander of the southern front.
The country’s military said the strike was carried out while Hezbollah leadership met at their underground headquarters in Dahieh.
This continues a recent trend in which Israel has repeatedly targeted Hezbollah’s leadership structure.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, Israel launched another wave of attacks on Beirut and the Bekaa Valley, a day after massive strikes shook the capital and targeted Bhamdoun.
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Hezbollah leader killed says IDF
Smoke rose from Beirut’s southern suburbs on Saturday morning and the streets were empty after the area was pummelled by the Israeli attacks.
In the aftermath of the most recent attacks, an Israeli military spokesperson declined to comment on whether US-made Mark 84 heavy bombs were used in the strike against Nasrallah.
They added that they were not sure about the number of civilian casualties but blamed Hezbollah for positioning themselves in residential areas.
Meanwhile, Iran said it was in constant contact with Hezbollah and other allies to determine its “next step”, but Reuters reported that the country’s Supreme Leader was transferred to a secure location in light of the latest attack.
Nasrallah’s death will be a blow to the group as it continues to reel from a campaign of escalating Israeli attacks.
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