Lebanon’s Hezbollah confirmed on Saturday that its leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in an Israeli airstrike, pledging to continue its fight against Israel.
The confirmation came shortly after France’s foreign ministry stated that its information indicated Nasrallah’s death.
“The security and protection of civilians, including French citizens in the region, remain our priority,” the French foreign ministry emphasized.
This followed Israel’s announcement that it had killed the Hezbollah leader in a strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs the previous day.
Nasrallah’s death deals a significant blow to Hezbollah and its regional ally, Iran. As a prominent figure within the Tehran-backed “Axis of Resistance,” Nasrallah was instrumental in expanding Iranian influence across the Middle East.
The Israeli military reported that it had killed Nasrallah in a “targeted strike” on Hezbollah’s underground headquarters beneath a residential building in Dahiyeh, a Hezbollah stronghold in southern Beirut. The strike also reportedly killed senior Hezbollah leader Ali Karaki and several other commanders.
Lebanese security sources stated that Friday’s airstrike left a 20-meter-deep crater and shook the Lebanese capital.
Despite Nasrallah’s death, Hezbollah continued its cross-border rocket fire into Israel, triggering sirens and forcing northern Israeli residents into shelters.
The escalating conflict has heightened fears of a broader regional confrontation involving Hezbollah’s backer, Iran, and possibly the United States.
Israeli military officials have maintained a heightened state of alert, expressing hope that Nasrallah’s death might influence Hezbollah’s actions, though they remain cautious.
“We hope this will change Hezbollah’s behavior,” Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani said during a media briefing, noting it would take time to weaken Hezbollah’s capabilities.
“We’ve seen Hezbollah attack us consistently over the past year. It’s reasonable to assume they will continue or attempt further attacks against us,” he added.
