Israel targets Hezbollah leader Nasrallah in strike on group's headquarters in Beirut (WATCH)
By Sunita Iyer | First Published Sep 27, 2024, 9:36 PM ISTIsraeli forces on Friday conducted a targeted airstrike on the group's central headquarters located in Beirut's southern suburb of Dahieh, reportedly aiming at Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
In a significant escalation of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, Israeli forces on Friday conducted a targeted airstrike on the group's central headquarters located in Beirut's southern suburb of Dahieh, reportedly aiming at Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
According to local media, the strike is said to have involved the use of bunker-buster and 2,000-pound bombs, leading to the destruction of at least six residential buildings and raising urgent questions regarding Nasrallah's whereabouts.
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"The IDF conducted a precise strike on the Central Headquarters of the Hezbollah terrorist organization, embedded under residential buildings in the heart of the Dahieh in Beirut," wrote IDF in a post on X.
⭕️ The IDF conducted a precise strike on the Central Headquarters of the Hezbollah terrorist organization, embedded under residential buildings in the heart of the Dahieh in Beirut. pic.twitter.com/BH0f62otvU
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF)🚨🇱🇧BREAKING: MASSIVE BUNKER BUSTERS USED IN ASSASSINATION STRIKE IN BEIRUT
Israeli airstrikes destroyed four buildings in the Haret Hreik area, known as the “combat barracks,” near the office of the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc deputies—a political wing of Hezbollah.
The… https://t.co/PDMjRncvck pic.twitter.com/a5OnSzvKsi
Israeli military spokesperson, Lt. Col. Daniel Hagari, confirmed the operation during a televised address, emphasizing that the headquarters was strategically embedded under civilian structures in a known Hezbollah stronghold.
"Moments ago, the Israel Defense Forces carried out a precise strike on the Central Headquarters of the Hezbollah terror organization…taking the necessary action to protect our people so that Israeli families can live in their homes, safely and securely," he said.
“Moments ago, the Israel Defense Forces carried out a precise strike on the Central Headquarters of the Hezbollah terror organization…taking the necessary action to protect our people so that Israeli families can live in their homes, safely and securely.”
Listen to IDF… pic.twitter.com/I4hbN7KkO8
Despite the intense military action, Al Arabiya has reported that the assassination attempt on Nasrallah has failed, with the Hezbollah leader reportedly not present during the attack.
Footage from the scene depicted massive clouds of orange and black smoke billowing into the sky, signifying the scale of the bombardment. The strike comes amid a backdrop of increased tensions, with Israel shifting its military focus from Gaza to the northern front with Lebanon in response to the recent cross-border skirmishes initiated by Hamas on October 7.
🚨🇱🇧 IDF STRIKES HEZBOLLAH HQ IN BEIRUT | TARGET WAS NASRALLAH
IDF Spokesman Lt. Col. Daniel Hagari:
"The headquarters was located under residential buildings in the stronghold of the terrorist organization."
4 residential buildings were destroyed in the raid targeting… https://t.co/orcLAZGN2e pic.twitter.com/SLGWzQdfxJ
🚨🇱🇧 BREAKING: ISRAELI STRIKE TARGETS HEZBOLLAH HQ AND POTENTIALLY NASRALLAH
4 buildings destroyed in a targeted alleged assassination strike on Nasrallah and Hezbollah headquarters in Beirut’s southern suburb.
The Israeli army used bunker-buster and 2,000-pound bombs, raising… https://t.co/gdled5Ve0T pic.twitter.com/Qab1hrH5fI
🚨🇱🇧 BEIRUT STRIKE: 6 BUILDINGS FLATTENED
A source close to Hezbollah tells AFP that the Israeli strike in the southern suburb of Haret Hreik flattened six buildings.
The targeted location is a Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut.
Source: AFP, Times of Israel reporter. https://t.co/Bb6eRf4S0R pic.twitter.com/1J3RlFE9rK
🚨⚡ The main target of the attack as speculation was Hezbullah's Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah. pic.twitter.com/n7TVgtpNsc
— RussiaNews 🇷🇺 (@mog_russEN)Earlier today, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the UN, reaffirming his commitment to dismantling the Hezbollah threat, dismissing calls for a truce proposed by France and the United States. He emphasized, "As long as Hezbollah chooses the path of war, Israel has no choice, and Israel has every right to remove this threat and return our citizens to their homes safe."
"We will continue degrading Hezbollah until all our objectives are met," he added.
Netanyahu also threatened Iran during his UN address, stating, "I have a message for the tyrants of Tehran. If you strike us, we will strike you. There is no place in Iran that the long arm of Israel cannot reach, and that's true of the entire Middle East."
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated that there are no changes to the safety guidelines for Israeli civilians following the strike. However, the attack has triggered a severe humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, with reports indicating that over 1,500 people have died amid the ongoing violence, surpassing casualties from the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The UN has described the current period as the "deadliest" Lebanon has faced in a generation.
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