In a bold move that has shaken the Middle East, the Israeli military launched a series of devastating airstrikes on Hezbollah’s headquarters in Beirut on Friday, targeting the group’s elusive leader, Hassan Nasrallah. The strikes, which sent shockwaves through the Lebanese capital, left at least six people dead and 91 injured, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.
The Israeli military claimed that the operation was aimed at degrading Hezbollah’s military capabilities and disrupting its command structure. Senior Israeli officials confirmed that Nasrallah was the primary target of the strikes, but cautioned that it was too early to confirm whether the Hezbollah leader had been killed.
“The strikes were designed to severely weaken Hezbollah’s leadership and operational capabilities,” said a senior Israeli official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “We believe that Nasrallah and his top commanders were present at the headquarters during the attack.”
The strikes, which occurred in the densely populated Dahiyeh neighborhood, flattened several high-rise apartment buildings, sending plumes of smoke into the sky. Residents reported feeling the ground shake as the explosions rocked the area.
Nasrallah, the 64-year-old leader of Hezbollah, has been a thorn in Israel’s side for decades. Under his leadership, Hezbollah has transformed from a small militia into one of the most powerful armed groups in the region, with a vast arsenal of rockets and missiles capable of striking deep into Israeli territory.
Despite living in hiding for years due to fears of assassination, Nasrallah remains a charismatic and influential figure among Hezbollah supporters and the Lebanese Shiite community. He is often hailed as a hero for his defiant stance against Israel and his unwavering commitment to the group’s ideology.
The Israeli strikes come amid a month-long escalation in tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, which began after the Gaza-based Hamas militant group launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7. In response, Israel launched a massive military operation in Gaza, while Hezbollah fired rockets and missiles into northern Israel in solidarity with Hamas.
The Israeli military has since intensified its strikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, killing hundreds of fighters and civilians. Israeli officials have warned that a ground invasion of Lebanon is a possibility if Hezbollah does not halt its attacks.
In a speech at the United Nations on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on the international community to support Israel’s efforts to defeat Hezbollah. “We are not at war with Lebanon,” Netanyahu said. “We are at war with Hezbollah, which has hijacked your country and threatens to destroy ours.”
Hezbollah officials have not commented on the Israeli strikes, but the group’s supporters have vowed to continue fighting until Israel withdraws from Gaza and ends its aggression against Lebanon.
The situation in Lebanon remains volatile, with thousands of civilians displaced by the fighting and living in makeshift shelters. The United Nations has warned that the humanitarian situation is deteriorating rapidly and called for an immediate ceasefire.