On Friday, the Israeli military carried out a series of airstrikes targeting Hezbollah’s central headquarters in Beirut, with the primary objective of killing the group’s leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. The strikes, part of Israel’s escalating offensive against Hezbollah, aimed at weakening the militant group’s leadership and operational capabilities. Despite widespread destruction, including the flattening of four buildings in the Hezbollah stronghold of Dahiyeh, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah was reportedly unharmed.
A Hezbollah spokesperson, Hajj Muhammad Afif, confirmed that Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah was not at the targeted location during the missile strike. “His Eminence the Secretary-General is fine and well,” Afif told Iranian television, dismissing rumors that Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah had been unreachable after the attack.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the strikes were part of a broader campaign against senior Hezbollah commanders, and reported that several operatives had been killed. Among the dead were Muhammad Ali Ismail, the head of Hezbollah’s missile unit, and his deputy. The strikes came amid escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, which has retaliated against Israeli military operations in Gaza by launching rocket fire into Israeli territory.
In response to the airstrikes, massive clouds of smoke rose over Beirut’s southern suburbs. The Lebanese Health Ministry confirmed that at least nine people were killed and more than 90 wounded. Search and rescue efforts continued through the night, with multiple large craters left by the powerful explosions, which also damaged surrounding structures.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York just before the strikes, said, “As long as Hezbollah chooses the path of war, Israel has no choice but to remove this threat.” He affirmed Israel’s right to protect its citizens from Hezbollah’s growing military presence in civilian areas. Shortly after Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech, multiple explosions rocked the Lebanese capital.
The airstrikes have further escalated the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which began intensifying nearly a year ago. Hezbollah declared solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza following Israeli military operations there, resulting in continuous cross-border hostilities. Israeli military operations, including targeted killings and attacks on Hezbollah assets, have dramatically increased in recent months.
As fears of a broader regional war grow, efforts by the US and France to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah appear to be stalling, especially following Friday’s airstrikes. Israel has also deployed additional tanks and armored vehicles along its northern border with Lebanon, signaling preparations for a possible ground invasion.
