Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed leader Hezbollah terrorist organizationHassan Nasrallah was killed on Friday in a strike against the group’s headquarters in Lebanon.
“This is not the end of our toolbox. The message is simple, anyone who threatens Israeli civilians – we will know how to reach them,” the IDF’s chief of general staff, Lt. Herzi Halevi called for the elimination of Nasrallah.
The IDF struck the headquarters of an Iran-backed terrorist proxy in southern Beirut, revealing that they had targeted Nasrallah. A Hezbollah media relations officer initially claimed he was “fine and well”, but the Israelis confirmed his death the next morning.
Hezbollah later confirmed the death of its terrorist chief. one in Statement given to ReutersIt said it would continue its fight against Israel “in support of Gaza and Palestine, and in defense of Lebanon and its steadfast and honorable people”.
Lebanon’s health ministry said at least two other people were killed and dozens were injured.
Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah speaks via a video link as his supporters raise hands during the Shia holy day of Ashoura in Beirut, Lebanon’s southern suburbs, on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022. The leader of Lebanon’s militant Hezbollah group has issued a warning to arch enemy Israel over the maritime border dispute between the two countries. (AP Photo/Hussain Malla)
“The IDF has announced that yesterday (Friday), September 27, 2024, Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the Hezbollah terrorist organization and one of its founders, was eliminated by the IDF together with Ali Karki, the commander of Hezbollah’s Southern Front. Additional Hezbollah commander,” the IDF said in a statement.
The statement said, “Following precise intelligence from the IDF and the Israeli security establishment, IAF fighter jets conducted a targeted strike on the central headquarters of the Hezbollah terrorist organization, which was located underground under a residential building in the Daheeh area of Beirut.” ” “The attack was carried out while Hezbollah’s senior command was operating from the headquarters and carrying out terrorist activities against civilians of the State of Israel.”
The IDF said Nasrallah was responsible for the killing of numerous Israeli civilians and soldiers, as well as planning and carrying out thousands of terrorist acts around the world. The IDF said Nasrallah was Hezbollah’s central decision maker and strategic leader.
The IDF profile photo shows Hezbollah terror chief Hassan Nasrallah, who the IDF confirmed was killed in a strike on Friday. (IDF Spokesperson Unit)
on friday, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin “The United States was not involved in Israel’s operation,” he told reporters, noting that “there was no advance warning” from the Israelis.
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu He cut short his visit to New York after his speech at the United Nations General Assembly, where he warned Hezbollah about Israel’s right to be aggressive.
An IDF information chart showing how it destroyed Hezbollah’s chain of command in recent attacks. (IDF Spokesperson Unit)
“As long as Hezbollah chooses the path of war, Israel has no choice, and Israel has every right to eliminate this threat and return our citizens safely to their homes, and that’s what we are doing,” he said. “
After his speech the Prime Minister’s Office released a photo showing the Israeli leader approving the operation against the terrorist chief in his New York hotel.
Israel targets Hezbollah leader Nasrallah in attack on Beirut headquarters
The IDF said it was continuing to attack terrorist infrastructure sites belonging to Hezbollah.
“Since last night, the IDF struck more than 140 Hezbollah terrorist targets, including launchers targeting Israeli civilians, buildings in which weapons were stored, strategic weapons, weapons production facilities and additional terrorist infrastructure sites, including residential areas in the area Some were embedded beneath buildings in Beirut,” the IDF said.
“The IDF is working to weaken and destroy Hezbollah’s terrorist infrastructure and capabilities,” it said.
Rich Goldberg, a senior adviser at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital that Nasrallah’s death would mark a significant victory for Israel because of his close ties to Tehran.
This photo shows the Israeli Air Force command on the night of the killing of Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the Hezbollah terrorist organization. (IDF)
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“People don’t appreciate that Nasrallah replaced Soleimani as Khamenei’s senior strategist,” Goldberg said.
“Nasrallah had operational control of Lebanon and Syria: This is not just a strategic game-changer Hezbollah, Lebanon and SyriaThis is a strategic game-changer for Tehran,” Goldberg explained. “We must assume that the IRGC is effectively in charge behind the scenes. Khamenei had apparently decided in recent weeks to avoid inviting Israeli attacks inside Iran.”
“The calculations that led to this decision have not changed,” Goldberg said. “Should Khamenei decide tonight that he’s feeling lucky and order a direct attack, we should reset all of our assumptions about what Israel is willing to do inside Iran.”
Reuters contributed to this report.
