Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah and one of its
founders, was eliminated together with Ali Karki, the Commander of Hezbollah’s
Southern Front, and additional Hezbollah commanders, the Israel Defense Forces
(IDF) said in a statement.
Nasrallah, aged 64, was one of the founders and secretary
general of Hezbollah. He has led Hezbollah for more than three decades.
Nasrallah oversaw Hezbollah’s transformation into one of the most powerful paramilitary
forces in the Middle East.
Israeli Air Force jets conducted a targeted strike on the
central headquarters of the Hezbollah, which was located underground embedded
under a residential building in the area of Dahiyeh in Beirut,” the IDF said.
“The strike was conducted while Hezbollah’s senior chain of
command were operating from the headquarters and advancing terrorist activities
against the citizens of the State of Israel,” sources added.
Following the announcement, the army chief warned this is
“not the end of our toolbox.” Israel has been escalating its attacks on
Hezbollah.
Overnight, Israel launched further strikes on southern
Lebanon, targeting what it says are stores of Hezbollah weapons. State-run
media in Lebanon says there have been casualties.
Lebanon has recorded more than 100,000 people displaced by
the recent conflict, but authorities said the true number is likely much
higher. Up to half a million people are likely internally displaced, said Dr.
Firass Abiad, Lebanon’s health minister.
Hezbollah began firing on northern Israel the day after
Hamas’ October 07 attack on the country. Around 60,000 Israelis have been
forced from their homes, whom the Israeli government has committed to
returning.
Last week, Israel massively ramped up its military campaign
against Hezbollah, killing hundreds and displacing hundreds of thousands of
civilians, according to the Lebanese government.
