Hassan Nasrallah targetted in Israel’s airstrikes on Beirut

Israel has escalated its conflict with Hezbollah by launching airstrikes on Beirut and Lebanon, including a heavy attack aimed at Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. This follows a previous strike in southern Beirut, marking Israel’s most intense military action on the Lebanese capital in nearly a year.

Nasrallah, a key figure in the Iran-backed Hezbollah, was reportedly targeted, but his fate remains unclear.

The strikes began early Saturday, lasting over five hours and destroying multiple buildings in Hezbollah-controlled areas of southern Beirut. Eyewitnesses reported over 20 airstrikes before dawn. Thousands of Lebanese residents fled their homes, seeking refuge in public spaces and seaside areas amid ongoing air raids.

This military escalation is seen as an alarming move by Israel, especially targeting Nasrallah, whose leadership is critical to Iran’s regional influence and Hezbollah’s significant rocket arsenal on Israel’s northern border. Hezbollah’s military presence has long served as a deterrent against Israeli action on Iran’s nuclear programme.

Huge attack by Israel on Beirut using at least 10 bunker busters JDAM to penetrate underground. Target is Hassan Nasrallah in the Hezbollah HQ. Where once stood a neighborhood is now dust. pic.twitter.com/JWz8h6BzZL

— World life (@seautocure) September 27, 2024

Despite Nasrallah’s unconfirmed status, Israeli officials acknowledged targeting Hezbollah commanders during the strike. Israeli forces confirmed the deaths of Muhammad Ali Ismail, Hezbollah’s missile commander, and his deputy, Hossein Ahmed Ismail.

Lebanon’s health authorities reported six dead and 91 wounded from Israel’s initial attack on Friday, which marked the fourth attack on Beirut’s southern suburbs in a week. Some estimates suggest the death toll could rise significantly as rescue operations continue.

Reports indicate that over 700 people have died due to Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon over the past week.

Israel’s actions have sparked fears of further escalation, potentially dragging Iran, Hezbollah’s primary backer, into the conflict. The United States, Israel’s ally, has distanced itself from the strikes. U.S. President Joe Biden denied any involvement in the operations, despite Israeli media suggesting the U.S. was briefed beforehand.

The strikes have further aggravated tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, with the latter retaliating by launching hundreds of rockets at Israeli targets, including Tel Aviv. Israel’s air defence systems have managed to limit the damage from these attacks, although fears of a broader conflict involving Iran and regional powers continue to grow.

Six buildings collapsed in Lebanon’s capital after Israeli airstrikes hit Beirut, clearing rubble begins.

The Israel Defense Forces officially confirmed that the target of the attack was Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah. pic.twitter.com/iVW7XJfq15

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International reactions have been swift, with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condemning the strikes as “war crimes” and accusing Israel of state terrorism.

At the United Nations, where the annual General Assembly is in session, leaders, including U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, have called for diplomacy to resolve the conflict.

Efforts to establish a ceasefire have so far been rebuffed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who insists that military operations will continue until Hezbollah’s influence is neutralised. As the conflict intensifies, thousands of Lebanese residents remain displaced, with reports of further airstrikes in eastern Lebanon and the mountain town of Bhamdoun.

Both sides of the conflict have been urged by international powers to seek a peaceful resolution, but with the violence escalating and regional tensions at a peak, the situation remains dangerously unstable.