Hezbollah Confirms Leader Hassan Nasrallah Killed in Israeli Airstrike, Calls Him 'Great Martyr'

Hezbollah announced today that its long-serving leader, Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on the southern suburbs of Beirut. The group, in an official statement, confirmed that Nasrallah, who led Hezbollah for nearly three decades, had died as a “great martyr” in what it described as a 'treacherous' raid.

The statement, beginning with a religious invocation, hailed Nasrallah as a “heroic, daring, brave, wise, insightful, and faithful leader” who had led Hezbollah “from victory to victory.” His leadership, which began after the death of his predecessor in 1992, saw the group’s rise to prominence, most notably through the liberation of southern Lebanon from Israeli occupation in 2000 and the 2006 war with Israel, which Hezbollah refers to as the “Glorious Divine Victory.”

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Nasrallah's death marks a significant moment in the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. The statement made by Hezbollah referred to Nasrallah joining his “immortal martyred comrades” and emphasized his role in supporting Palestine and Gaza.

Earlier today, France’s Foreign Ministry confirmed Nasrallah’s death. “According to the information we have, Hassan Nasrallah, secretary general of Hezbollah, would indeed have died,” said a statement released by the ministry.

The Israeli airstrike is believed to have targeted Hezbollah’s central headquarters in Beirut, which Israel believes was intentionally located in residential buildings as a shield. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), described the operation as a “precise strike” on Hezbollah’s main base in the city. There has been no word yet on civilian casualties from the attack.

Nasrallah’s death, which Hezbollah likened to the martyrdom of historical Islamic leaders, was mourned across Lebanon, particularly among the group’s supporters. 

The future of Hezbollah’s leadership remains uncertain. His passing is likely to have far-reaching implications for the geopolitical landscape in Lebanon, Israel, and the broader Middle East.