Lebanon’s Hezbollah confirmed on Saturday that its leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut’s southern suburbs. The strike, which took place a day earlier, also killed senior commanders, including Ali Karaki, and marked a significant blow to the Tehran-backed group as it battles Israel amid escalating tensions.
Hezbollah’s statement declared that Nasrallah had joined the ranks of the “immortal martyrs” after leading the organization for nearly 30 years. It vowed to continue its fight against Israel in support of Gaza and Palestine.
Israel confirmed the targeted strike, stating that Nasrallah and his commanders were eliminated at an underground Hezbollah headquarters in Dahiyeh while planning terrorist activities. Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee announced Nasrallah’s death on social media. “Hassan Nasrallah will no longer be able to terrorise the world,” the Israeli military said in a post on X on Saturday.
The strike also killed Iranian General Abbas Nilforoushan, deputy commander of the Revolutionary Guard Corps, further deepening the blow to Iran’s influence in the region. Tehran responded with defiant messages, affirming that Hezbollah’s mission would continue.
Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV aired Quranic verses following the announcement. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani posted on X that Nasrallah’s “sacred goal will be realised in the liberation of Quds (Jerusalem), God willing”, while in Tehran, posters of Nasrallah were erected with slogans of resistance.
Nasrallah’s death represents a significant setback not only for Hezbollah but also for its reported backers in Iran. As a prominent leader within the Tehran-supported “Axis of Resistance,” Nasrallah played a crucial role in extending Iranian influence throughout the Middle East.
In a statement, Hezbollah declared:
“His eminence, the leader of resistance, and a righteous servant, has ascended to his Lord as a great martyr.”
The group’s leadership vowed to continue its fight against Israel, pledging unwavering support for Gaza and Palestine while defending Lebanon and its resilient people. The statement did not specify Nasrallah’s successor or detail Hezbollah’s response to the assassination of its long-time leader.
