The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah confirmed on Saturday that its longtime leader, Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in an Israeli attack on a Beirut suburb.
The killing of 64-year-old Nasrallah, a cleric who led Hezbollah for more than 30 years and built the Lebanese militant group into a powerful force, is one of the strongest blows Israel has ever dealt to Hezbollah.
Under Nasrallah’s leadership, the Shiite organization has built enormous political influence in Lebanon, as well as a military branch that is considered a major force in the region. He also helped forge close ties with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the group’s main backer and supplier.
Hezbollah called Nasrallah “a great martyr” and said he was killed on Friday in a “treacherous Zionist” attack.
The Iranian-backed Shiite movement vowed to “continue its jihad in confrontation with the enemy, in support of Gaza and Palestine, and in defense of Lebanon and its steadfast and honorable people.”
The group did not immediately comment on who would succeed Nasrallah.
Shortly after Hezbollah made the announcement, heavy gunfire could be heard in the air around Beirut, especially in the suburbs controlled by Hezbollah.
Supporters of the Shiite militia drove through the city in cars and scooters with Hezbollah flags and images of Nasrallah.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) first announced Nasrallah’s death, claiming he was killed along with senior Hezbollah commanders in an Israeli airstrike on a Hezbollah complex on Friday.
“Hassan Nasrallah will no longer be able to terrorize the world,” the IDF wrote in a post on social media platform X.
The Hezbollah commander in charge of southern Lebanon, Ali Karaki, was also killed, along with other high-ranking commanders, the report said.
Crowds dressed in black gathered in parts of Beirut to mourn after Nasrallah’s death was announced. One woman hit her head in grief and shouted, “Our pillar has died,” as dozens of journalists filmed the crowd.
“There was one Nasrallah, but now we are all Nasrallah,” said one man.
Beirut’s southern suburbs, meanwhile, were largely deserted as most residents fled heavy Israeli airstrikes targeting the area.
It is difficult to predict how Hezbollah might respond, or what the consequences might be for the ongoing conflict with Israel and the broader region.
Fears that mutual attacks between Israel and Hezbollah could escalate into all-out war have increased since Israel launched a massive air campaign against Hezbollah targets across Lebanon on Monday, killing hundreds of people so far.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei described Hezbollah as “invincible” in his remarks on Saturday, but did not directly address reports of Nasrallah’s death.
“The criminal Zionists (Israelis) should know that they are not able to damage the stable structure of Hezbollah as the leader of the resistance front,” Khamenei said, according to state news agency IRNA.
Hezbollah continued to attack Israel on Saturday, taking responsibility for several rocket attacks and artillery bombardments on the neighboring country.
Meanwhile, Israel continued its attacks on Lebanon at night and during the day on Saturday, with reports of new airstrikes hitting Beirut’s southern suburbs in the afternoon.
The IDF said Friday’s attack that killed Nasrallah targeted a Hezbollah headquarters believed to be located beneath residential buildings.
After the attack, thick clouds of smoke could be seen in the area of Haret Hreik near the airport, followed by large piles of rubble.
At least six people were killed and 91 injured in the attack, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. However, according to state media, the death toll is expected to rise further as several buildings have been completely destroyed.
Israel’s military chief threatened other enemies of the country shortly after announcing Nasrallah’s death.
“The message to anyone who threatens the citizens of the State of Israel is simple: we will know how to reach them. In the north, in the south and in places further afield,” said Israeli Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi.
He said Friday’s attack had been planned for a long time.
“It came at the right time and in a very sharp way,” Halevi said.
Nasrallah joined Hezbollah, which means ‘the party of God’, in 1982. After the Israeli assassination of his predecessor, Abbas al-Mussawi, in 1992, he became the group’s leader.
He oversaw the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon in 2000, which had been occupied since 1982, and also led Hezbollah through the 2006 Israeli invasion, which he described as a “divine victory” for his forces.
Hezbollah has also been hit hard by massive attacks from Israel in recent weeks. The country has been significantly weakened in terms of its leadership, its means of communication and probably its combative morale.
Pagers and radios used by Hezbollah fighters exploded earlier this month in a series of coordinated attacks believed to be carried out by Israel, killing dozens and injuring thousands.
