Israel unleashed a series of strikes on Hezbollah positions in eastern and southern Lebanon, claiming to have targeted over 140 sites linked to the militant group.
Residential buildings were reportedly flattened, sending plumes of smoke billowing into the morning sky. The situation was dire for Hezbollah, with the Israeli Defense Forces asserting that their strikes resulted in the deaths of several Hezbollah commanders, including their leader Hassan Nasrallah.The death was confirmed by Hezbollah hours later.
Iran too reported the death of Abbas Nilforushan, a deputy commander in Iran Revolutionary Guard, who was also killed in the airstrike that claimed Nasrallah’s life. The Iranian state-run news agency IRNA confirmed this loss, indicating the far-reaching implications of the Israeli operations.
The Israeli Air Force said, “The IDF continues to attack terrorist targets of Hezbollah in Lebanese territory” while sharing videos of airstrikes. The videos captured the explosions as they rocked various targets in Lebanon.
The operation to eliminate Nasrallah was codenamed “New Order,” a clear indication of its strategic importance to Israeli military planners.
The video, also released by the Israeli Air Force, showed chilling moments from the command center, where the chief of the General Staff directed the operation to take out the Hezbollah leader.
Hezbollah, which has been a formidable adversary of Israel for decades, vowed to persist in its “holy war” against what it termed the enemy and in support of Palestine.
This incident marks a turning point, as Nasrallah has been a significant figure in Lebanese and regional politics, leading Hezbollah for over three decades.
In the broader context of this conflict, the week has been marked as one of the deadliest for Lebanon since the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. Reports indicate that Israeli strikes have resulted in the deaths of more than 700 individuals, with at least 150 women and children among the casualties.