Is Hezbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah Dead? Israeli Official Casts Doubt on His Survival After IDF Airstrikes in Beirut

Is Hezbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah Dead? Israeli Official Casts Doubt on His Survival After IDF Airstrikes in Beirut

Unnamed Israeli officials believe that Hassan Nasrallah, who leads Hezbollah, may have died during airstrikes on the group’s main base in Beirut on Friday. The Jerusalem Post reports one official as saying, “We find it hard to believe he got out alive.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is said to have approved the strike shortly before addressing the UN General Assembly in New York.

Precise Strike to Target Nasrallah

Beirut was hit by a massive attack on Friday. According to reports, 300 people died in an airstrike that sent thick smoke over the city. It was the most intense bombing of Beirut in almost a year of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah militants, says The Times of Israel.

An Israeli military spokesman added there would be news updates after further investigation: “We are looking into the situation regarding Hassan Nasrallah; we will provide information as soon as possible.” civilian buildings were targeted precisely during the strike at noon local time. More information will follow when all facts have been checked. He said, “The person we’re talking about is hiding there.”.

Iran’s Response: Emergency Meeting and Warnings

After the airstrikes, an emergency meeting of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council was convened by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country’s Supreme Leader, The New York Times reported. Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran’s President, called the attack a war crime and said it was terrorism by Israel.

An adviser to Khamenei whose name is Ali Larijani said assassinating resistance leaders crossed red lines from which there would be consequences for Israel; killing one person will not stop others like him from coming forward—this does not solve any problems (Larijani also spoke about their being no confirmation yet). Addressing viewers during a live television broadcast while speculation grew around whether Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah had died in the bombing raid, he added, Should they fall too—however many commanders die—because we have lots more people waiting.” Furthermore, he stressed that its organization has capable leaders, so when one dies, another can take over his job.

Hezbollah Commanders Also Killed in Strikes

Besides Nasrallah, Israeli forces took out some other Hezbollah leaders. Targets included Muhammad Ali Ismail, who commanded the group’s missile force in southern Lebanon, and his deputy, Ibrahim Muhammad Kabisi. Ismail was blamed for many attacks against Israel, such as an ongoing rocket campaign; he was killed in the same air strike that got Nasrallah’s family member.

Regional and International Tensions Escalate

As violence continues to rise in the Middle East, people are becoming increasingly worried and upset. They are scared that things might get even worse—and affect more countries. Imran Riza works for the UN in Lebanon, helping with emergency aid. He says things have never been as bad as they are now for 20 years; lots of people have been killed. America’s senior diplomat, Antony Blinken, wants other ways to sort things out between nations (diplomacy).

Also Read: Zainab Nasrallah, Daughter of Hezbollah Leader, Killed in Israeli Airstrike: Report

But when the USA recently tried to help end fighting there, it didn’t work. Benjamin Netanyahu spoke at a meeting of world leaders organized by the United Nations. Israel’s leader talked directly to Iran about attacks on his own country: “If you hit us first, we will hit back hard.” He also said no one should think they are safe from Israeli retaliation anywhere in the region—including inside Iran itself! These words made observers even more concerned that there could be a wider war involving other states. Will Hassan Nasrallah die soon? What might happen afterward? How could his passing affect Hezbollah or Lebanon? Does this militant group have important friends who would support anti-Israel actions?