Sat Sep 28 21:18:01 UTC 2024: ## Hezbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah Killed in Israeli Airstrike

**BEIRUT, LEBANON** – Hezbollah, the powerful Lebanese militia group, confirmed on Saturday the death of their leader and founder, Hassan Nasrallah, in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut the previous day. The Israeli military claimed responsibility for the strike, stating that Nasrallah was killed along with other Hezbollah commanders during a meeting at their headquarters in Dahiyeh, south of Beirut.

The airstrike, which levelled six apartment buildings in the capital, killed six people and injured 91, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. Israel said the strike was based on years of tracking Nasrallah and “real-time information.”

Nasrallah’s death is a significant blow to Hezbollah, which has been locked in a fierce conflict with Israel for nearly a year. The Israeli military has vowed to step up pressure on the group until it halts its attacks, which have displaced tens of thousands of Israelis and Lebanese.

The Israeli Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, declared that the elimination of Nasrallah was “not the end of our toolbox,” hinting at further strikes. He emphasized that the strike targeting Hezbollah leadership was the result of a long period of preparation.

Iran, a major supporter of Hezbollah, condemned the attack and called for a “strong” response. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the resistance movement, led by Hezbollah, will decide the fate of the region. He also stated that Hezbollah was strong enough to withstand Israeli attacks.

The death of Nasrallah is a “historical moment,” according to Orna Mizrahi, a senior researcher at the Tel Aviv-based think tank Institute for National Security Studies. While acknowledging the significant blow to Hezbollah, she warned that the group’s vast arsenal and the potential for retaliation from Iran remain major concerns.

The impact of Nasrallah’s death on the ongoing conflict remains unclear, but it has heightened tensions and sparked fears of an escalation in violence. Israel has already mobilized additional reserve soldiers and is preparing for a potential ground invasion.

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