On Saturday, Hezbollah finally confirmed a massive development that has sent shockwaves throughout the Middle East. Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah for 32 years, was killed in a major Israeli airstrike. The confirmation came through Hezbollah’s Al-Manar television channel, which announced that Nasrallah had died as a martyr in the attack on Friday in the Dahieh suburb of Beirut.
Hezbollah, a powerful Shia Muslim group based in Lebanon, referred to Nasrallah as the “master of resistance” and a “righteous servant” who had been martyred. The group also vowed to continue its fight against Israel, pledging that his death would not stop their mission. The official statement said Hezbollah would keep confronting Israel, supporting Gaza and Palestine, and defending Lebanon. However, no details were given about how exactly Hezbollah plans to respond.
Nasrallah’s death marks a significant turning point in the decades-long conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. For over 30 years, Nasrallah led Hezbollah and transformed it into a formidable force. With backing from Iran, Hezbollah became Israel’s number one enemy in the region, alongside Hamas.
Israel’s airstrike, which targeted multiple buildings in Beirut’s southern suburbs, appears to have been a well-coordinated effort, with many top Hezbollah commanders also believed to have been killed. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced that Nasrallah would no longer be able to “terrorize the world.” The strikes were reportedly carried out using American-supplied “bunker-buster” bombs, powerful weapons capable of destroying underground facilities and reinforced buildings. Israeli media reported that around 85 of these bombs, each weighing up to 4,000 pounds, were used in the airstrike.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is said to have overseen or directly ordered the strike while in New York, shortly after giving a speech at the United Nations General Assembly. The timing of the strike, which coincided with heightened tensions in the region, suggests that something major had been in the works. Hours before Hezbollah’s announcement, Iran’s top leaders held an emergency meeting in Tehran. Reports indicated that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, was moved to a secure location as a precautionary measure.
Hamas, another militant group that opposes Israel, offered its condolences to Hezbollah, calling the Israeli attack a “barbaric act of terrorism.” In a statement published by Al Jazeera, Hamas condemned the airstrikes on residential buildings in Beirut, labeling the attack a massacre. Despite Nasrallah’s death, Hamas emphasized that Hezbollah’s resistance would continue, noting that there are other leaders ready to take up the fight against Israel.
As the news of Nasrallah’s death spread, there was growing uncertainty about how Hezbollah would regroup and respond. With its leadership hit hard and many commanders likely killed, it may take time for the group to organize its next move. However, Hezbollah’s statement made it clear that they are not backing down and will continue their resistance.
For Israel, the killing of Nasrallah marks a significant military achievement, but it also risks sparking a broader conflict in the region. Hezbollah’s retaliation is expected, and the possibility of escalation looms as tensions rise across the Middle East.
— War Monitor (@WarMonitors) September 27, 2024
From the strikes on Beirut now pic.twitter.com/tZ0ZjLcxf7
Meanwhile, civilians in Beirut’s southern suburbs continue to flee as Israeli airstrikes show no sign of stopping. The region remains on edge, bracing for what could be a new phase in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
The Middle East stands at a crossroads, and only time will tell how this monumental event will shape the future of the region.
