Hezbollah Chief Hassan Nasrallah 'Missing' As Israel Relentlessly Strikes Lebanon

Israel continued its aggressive airstrikes on Hezbollah's key strongholds in southern Beirut, Lebanon, today.

The strikes, which began last night in the capital city, caused thick plumes of smoke to rise, triggering panic and chaos in densely populated civilian areas.

Photo Credit: PTI

These attacks mark Israel's most intense bombardment of Beirut since it shifted military operations from Gaza to Lebanon earlier this week.

The strikes targeted alleged Hezbollah positions throughout Lebanon, resulting in widespread destruction and the deaths of hundreds.

While Israeli television reported that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was the main target, a Hezbollah source, cited by AFP, later stated that Nasrallah was "fine," despite having remained in hiding for years to avoid assassination attempts.

Nasrallah, a powerful figure in Lebanon, particularly among the Shiite community, is seen as pivotal to either continuing the conflict or negotiating peace.

According to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), the airstrikes killed Muhammad Ali Ismail, the commander of Hezbollah's missile unit in southern Lebanon, along with his deputy and other high-ranking officials of the Iran-backed militia.

Local resident Ahmad Ahmad, who fled southern Beirut during the strikes, described the attack as feeling "like an earthquake," as reported by AFP.

A second wave of bombing followed, with Israel claiming to have hit Hezbollah's weapons depots stored in buildings in southern Beirut.

Hezbollah denied these claims, while reports indicated six buildings were leveled, with 91 people injured and six confirmed dead.

In retaliation, Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel, prompting the Israeli military to issue warnings for civilians in Hezbollah strongholds to evacuate.

Benjamin Netanyahu's Warning

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, vowed to continue the military offensive against Hezbollah until Israel's northern border was secured.

He defended Israel's right to self-defense, stating there would be "no reprieve" for Hezbollah and suggesting that a ground invasion in Lebanon was a possibility.

Netanyahu also issued a sharp warning to Iran, accusing it of supporting Hezbollah and fueling the violence.

"If you strike us, we will strike you," Netanyahu declared, hinting that Israel was prepared to extend its operations across the Middle East if necessary.

During Netanyahu's speech at the UN, several diplomats walked out in protest.

The ongoing war in Gaza has drawn widespread condemnation, with more than 42,000 people reported dead in the besieged region and entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble, displacing hundreds of thousands.

Nasrallah Targeted in Beirut

The Friday evening airstrikes on southern Beirut were unprecedented in scale, involving what was described as "tens of tons of explosives."

Hezbollah's top leadership was thought to be present at an underground command center that was bombed, but Hezbollah later claimed Nasrallah survived the strikes.

Despite the massive destruction and flattening of entire buildings, there was no immediate confirmation of Nasrallah's death, although speculation persisted.

Israeli officials remained confident that the strikes had severely weakened Hezbollah's command structure.

IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari stated in a televised address that the airstrikes targeted Hezbollah's main headquarters in Beirut's Dahiyeh suburb.

The IDF also noted it had informed the United States of the operation as it was underway, although the U.S. was not directly involved.

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned the attack, calling it a "flagrant war crime," escalating tensions further.

International Reactions

The United Nations and humanitarian organisations have voiced concerns over the escalating violence in Lebanon.

UN humanitarian coordinator Imran Riza, speaking to AFP, warned, "We are witnessing the deadliest period in Lebanon in a generation, and many fear that this is only the beginning."