Israel carried out its most intense airstrike on Beirut in nearly a year, targeting Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital. The attack resulted in six confirmed deaths, 91 injuries, and widespread destruction in the predominantly Shia neighborhood of Haret Hreik. Early reports suggest that the death toll could rise, with some sources estimating that as many as 300 may have perished in the strikes.
The strikes, which occurred on Friday afternoon, were aimed at Nasrallah, the leader of the militant group Hezbollah, which has close ties with Iran. Hassan Nasrallah has been a key figure in Hezbollah’s activities and a strategic ally of Iran, playing a crucial role in the so-called axis of resistance. Israel’s move to target him represents a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict, given Hezbollah’s powerful rocket arsenal stationed along Israel’s northern border. The presence of this arsenal has long served as a deterrent against Israeli strikes on Iran.
Ground-Penetrating Munitions and Devastation in Beirut
Six loud explosions echoed across Beirut, with massive plumes of smoke visible as far as Batroun, approximately 35 miles north of the city. Several buildings in the Dahiya district were reduced to rubble, with footage revealing vast craters and scenes of devastation. Reports suggest that the airstrikes used ground-penetrating bunker buster bombs, evident from the vertical jets of flame visible in the explosion footage.
The Lebanese health ministry confirmed that six people had died and 91 were injured, though the death toll is expected to rise as rescue workers continue to clear the rubble. The devastation left behind suggests that the scale of the attack may be far worse than initially reported.
Israel Confirms Targeting Hassan Nasrallah and Hezbollah Headquarters
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, confirmed that the strikes had targeted Hezbollah’s main headquarters, which was located underground beneath civilian buildings in Beirut. While the IDF is still assessing the outcome of the strikes, Hagari described the attack as “very precise” and warned that additional Hezbollah targets would be hit in the coming hours.
Israeli media reported that Nasrallah was the principal target of the strikes, though Hezbollah sources have claimed that Nasrallah is “alive and well.” This comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a speech at the United Nations General Assembly, asserting that Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah would continue despite international calls for a ceasefire.
International Response and Regional Tensions
The airstrikes have drawn strong condemnation from Iran, with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian denouncing the attack as a “flagrant war crime.” In a statement carried by Iran’s official news agency IRNA, Pezeshkian said that the attacks on Beirut’s Dahiya neighborhood revealed the true nature of what he described as Israeli state terrorism. He further emphasized that targeting Hassan Nasrallah, whether successful or not, would only escalate tensions in the region.
The operation has further strained relations between Israel and Lebanon, with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who was in New York at the time, closely following the events as they unfolded. Mikati called the strikes a blatant violation of international appeals for a ceasefire and ordered the full mobilization of emergency services in response to reports of mass casualties.
Hezbollah Responds with Rocket Attacks
In retaliation, Hezbollah launched fresh rocket salvos at northern Israeli cities, including Safed, Karmiel, and Sa’ar, claiming that the attacks were in response to Israeli strikes on Lebanese cities and villages. Meanwhile, Israeli military officials reported the deaths of two Hezbollah commanders in southern Lebanon: Muhammad Ali Ismail, Hezbollah’s missile unit leader, and his deputy, Hossein Ahmed Ismail. These claims, however, have not yet been independently verified.
