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BEIRUT.- Israel killed the head of the Lebanese terrorist movement Hezbollah this Friday in a bombing, Hassan Nasrallahin a severe blow to the Iran-allied group that the Israeli government described as a “turning point” and that pushes the entire Middle East into the unknown. The announcement generated widespread global repercussions.
Hezbollah confirmed this Saturday the death of the Islamist leader almost 20 hours after the Israeli bombing against the central command of the allied group of Iran, in the south of the Lebanese capital, which destroyed six buildings in a densely populated area of the suburbs.
“Hassan Nasrallah met with his fellow martyrs whose march he led for more than 30 years”Hezbollah reported in a statement. And he added that he died along with other members of the group “in a treacherous Zionist bombing” on the southern outskirts of the Lebanese capital, a bastion of the movement.
“Hassan Nasrallah is dead”stated a spokesman for the Israeli Army, Nadav Shoshani, in X. He also reported the death of the commander of Hezbollah’s southern front, Ali Karake – confirmed by Hezbollah – and other leaders of the movement, in the operation called New Order.
Among the fallen was also Abbas Nilforoushana senior commander of the Revolutionary Guards, Iran’s ideological army, according to the official Iranian news agency IRNA.
Hassan Nasrallah during one of his televised speeches.EPA
Nasrallah, 64, considered the most powerful man in Lebanon, was revered among the Lebanese Shiite community. Leader of Hezbollah since 1992, He had been living in hiding for years for security reasons and rarely appeared in public.although it was expressed by video. His death carries the risk of destabilizing the country and constitutes a great victory for Israel against Iran and its allies.
“Nasrallah was one of the greatest enemies of all time of the State of Israel. Its elimination makes the world a safer place”said Israeli Army spokesman Daniel Hagari. And he specified that the “majority” of Hezbollah’s senior commanders were “eliminated” in operations in recent months.
The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahustated that Nasrallah’s death represents “what appears to be a historic turning point” in Israel’s fight against its “enemies.” He added: “We settle our accounts with the person responsible for the murder of countless Israelis and many citizens of other countries, including hundreds of Americans and dozens of French.”
Netanyahu warned that as long as “terrorist” Nasrallah was alive could have “rapidly restored Hezbollah capabilities that we had eroded” in a series of recent operations. “Then I gave the order and Nasrallah is no longer among us.”he declared.
From the United States, the president Joe Biden declared that the assassination of Nasrallah was “an act of justice” for the numerous victims of whom he was guilty. The Islamist leader was in Washington’s crosshairs, accused of having been part of attacks perpetrated against American diplomats and marines in the 1980s.
Hezbollah opened a front against Israel at the beginning of the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip in October 2023, in solidarity with its ally Hamas, and vowed to continue “until the Israeli aggression in Gaza ends”. This translated into a permanent exchange of fire between the two sides in the border regions of Lebanon and Israel. But the Israeli Army upped the ante by launching a massive bombing campaign last Monday that this time included the capital’s suburbs and other cities.
Israel affirms that, with its bombings in Lebanon, it seeks to restore security in the north of the country, the target of Hezbollah’s fire, and pallow the return of tens of thousands of inhabitants who fled their homes.
Friday’s bombing on the outskirts of Beirut destroyed dozens of buildingsforced hundreds of people to leave their homes and left at least six dead according to a provisional toll.
Hamas called the assassination of its ally Nasrallah a “cowardly terrorist act”while the first Iranian vice president, Mohamad Reza Arefthreatened that the death of his close ally will cause “the destruction” of Israel.
The Israeli Army stated that it had bombed “140 Hezbollah targets” since Friday night, and later announced that it launched a new “precision” strike on a Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut. The Lebanese government reported that the new barrage of bombings this Saturday left 33 dead and 195 injured.
Despite the Israeli attacks against its strongholds, the Shiite movement also announced that it fired rockets into northern Israel, although most are usually intercepted by the Israeli defense.
Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas leader, was assassinated in Iran and the attack was attributed to Israel.AFP – Iranian Presidency
Faced with this situation, the European authorities recommended that airlines to avoid the airspace of Lebanon and Israel at least “until October 31.”
Several companies announced the suspension of their flights to Beirut and Tel Aviv. The airline Iran Air announced the cancellation of its connections with Beirut.
The site of the attack that targeted Nasrallah. (Photo by Ibrahim AMRO / AFP)IBRAHIM AMRO – AFP
Since Monday, Israeli bombings left more than 700 deadmostly civilians, reported the Lebanese Ministry of Health. More than 50,000 people fled Lebanon to Syria due to Israeli bombing and “more than 200,000 are displaced” within the country, according to the UN.
In a year of clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, more than 1,500 people died, a higher toll than that caused by the last war between the two in 2006.
AP, AFP and DPA Agencies.
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