Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah killed in Israeli airstrike

Lebanon’s Hezbollah group confirmed on Saturday that its leader and founding member, Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in a southern suburb of Beirut.

Nasrallah, a key political and military figure in Lebanon for over 30 years, was linked by Israel to many attacks on Israeli and Jewish targets.

His assassination marks one of Israel’s most significant targeted killings in years and escalates the conflict in the region. Hezbollah, supported by Iran, has been a long-time opponent of Israel.

The Israeli military said they carried out a precise airstrike on Friday during a meeting of Hezbollah leaders in Dahiyeh, south of Beirut.

After Hezbollah confirmed his death, people across Lebanon fired into the air to mourn Nasrallah.

One woman in Baabda, clutching her baby, expressed her grief by saying, “Wish it was our kids, not you, Sayyid!” In Bekaa, another woman, dressed in black, told al-Manar TV, “We don’t believe he is killed. We left our homes and came here for him and the resistance.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that targeting Nasrallah was crucial for Israel’s goals, describing him as “the terrorist” and not just another militant.

He added that Nasrallah’s death would help bring displaced Israelis back to their homes and put pressure on Hamas to release hostages in Gaza.

However, Netanyahu warned of serious challenges ahead, including the risk of retaliation, and cautioned Iran against any attacks.