New Delhi: As Israel continued their attacks on Lebanon for the fifth day, they managed to eliminate Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah.
In a well-planned attack, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the killing of Nasrallah in strikes carried out in Hezbollah’s bastion in southern suburbs of Lebanese capital Beirut.
“Hassan Nasrallah will no longer be able to terrorize the world,” the IDF said in a post on X.
Iran, who finance and arm Hezbollah, warned of the worst consequences for killing Nasrallah, saying it will bring about Israel’s ‘destruction.’
“We warn the leaders of the occupying regime that the unjust bloodshed… especially of Hezbollah’s secretary general, martyr Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, will bring about their destruction,” Iran’s ISNA news agency quoted First Vice-President Mohammad Reza Aref as saying.
Aref said that Iran will “stand by the Islamic resistance.”
According to some reports, victims in latest Israeli strikes included Nasrallah’s daughter Zainab.
Over 700 people, including civilians and Hezbollah operatives, have lost their lives in Lebanon in the Israeli offensive against Hezbollah thus far.
On Saturday alone, reported hearing more than 20 airstrikes were conducted before dawn on Saturday in Beirut, Reuters quoted witnesses as saying.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian described the attacks as a “flagrant war crime” that exposes the true nature of Israel’s terrorism. He accused the United States of “complicity” in his killing.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called on Muslims around the world to unite and “stand by the people of Lebanon and the proud Hezbollah”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who vowed Israel’s strikes will continue and they would “continue degrading Hezbollah” during his address at the United Nations General Assembly, cut short his visit to the US and returned home as strikes intensified and the US distanced itself from Israel’s offensive.