Death of Hezbollah leader: Israel announces it has eliminated Hassan Nasrallah in an air raid

Israel officially announced on Saturday 28 September that it had eliminated Hassan Nasrallah, the emblematic leader of Hezbollah, in an air strike carried out the previous day in the southern suburbs of Beirut. This landmark operation was confirmed by the Israeli army and relayed by its spokesman, Lieutenant-Colonel Nadav Shoshani, via the X social network: ‘Hassan Nasrallah is dead’.

The pro-Iranian Lebanese movement quickly confirmed the news in a statement: ‘Sayed Hassan Nasrallah has joined his fellow martyrs, whose march he led for nearly thirty years. This dramatic announcement follows a high-precision strike carried out ‘on the basis of detailed intelligence’, which targeted Hezbollah’s headquarters, hidden beneath a residential building in the Dahieh district, one of the movement’s strongholds in Beirut.

Nasrallah, 64, had been a charismatic and feared figure on the Lebanese political and military scene for many years. Revered by his supporters and feared by his opponents, he rarely appeared in public, living a life of absolute discretion. His death represents a serious blow for Hezbollah and a turning point in the Middle East conflict.

A deadly raid in a densely populated area

The bombing that killed Nasrallah also caused significant collateral damage in this urban area, resulting in the destruction of several residential buildings, forcing hundreds of civilians to flee, and causing the death of at least six people, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. The attack, which was particularly powerful, shook this popular district, which has already been marked by numerous episodes of violence.

Major losses in the ranks of Hezbollah

In addition to the death of its leader, the Shiite organisation also lost several of its top leaders. Among the victims was Ali Karki, the commander of Hezbollah’s Southern Front, killed in the same strike. Israel also announced that other commanders were eliminated in a series of raids carried out in southern Lebanon on Friday night.

‘The majority of Hezbollah’s senior leaders have been eliminated in recent months’, said the Israeli army spokesman, emphasising the significant impact of these military operations. These events are likely to profoundly upset the balance of power in the region and trigger strong international reactions.

The beginning of a new chapter in an age-old conflict?

With the death of Nasrallah, an important page in the history of Hezbollah has been turned. It remains to be seen how the movement, a pillar of the Shiite axis in the Middle East, will react to this warning shot to its summit. This death could lead to a reconfiguration of power dynamics in Lebanon and beyond, against a backdrop of growing tensions between Israel and its neighbours.

The next few days will be crucial in assessing the consequences of this operation for the stability of the region, already shaken by numerous conflicts and rivalries.