2024 Hezbollah headquarters strike
Hezbollah headquarters strike | |
---|---|
Part of the September 2024 Lebanon strikes | |
Type | Airstrike |
Location | Haret Hreik, Dahieh, Lebanon 33°51′5″N 35°30′14″E / 33.85139°N 35.50389°E |
Target | Hassan Nasrallah |
Date | 27 September 2024 |
Executed by | Israeli Air Force |
Casualties | 33+ (including Nasrallah) killed 195+ injured |
On 27 September 2024, Hassan Nasrallah, the secretary-general of Hezbollah, was assassinated in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut.[1][2] The strike took place while Hezbollah leaders were meeting at a headquarters located 60 feet (18 m) underground beneath residential buildings in Haret Hreik in the Dahieh suburb to the south of Beirut.[2][3] Conducted by the Israeli Air Force using F-15I fighters,[4] the operation involved dropping more than 80 bombs,[5] including US-made 2,000-pound (910 kg) bunker buster bombs, destroying the underground headquarters as well as nearby buildings.[6][7] The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) codenamed the operation "New Order" (Hebrew: סדר חדש, romanized: Seder Hadash).
On 28 September 2024, the IDF announced his death;[8][9] his body was recovered from the rubble two days after the strike.[10] The attack resulted in at least 33 fatalities and more than 195 injuries, including civilians.[11][3] Ali Karaki, the commander of Hezbollah's Southern Front, was also killed in the attack, along with other senior commanders.[2] Abbas Nilforoushan, deputy commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and commander of the Quds Force in Lebanon, was also killed.[12]
Before the attack, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the United Nations (UN), saying Israel was dedicated to peace and its ongoing campaign against Hezbollah.[7][13][14] Lebanese prime minister Najib Mikati condemned this and prior Israeli attacks on Lebanon,[15][16] denouncing the ongoing Israeli attacks as "a war of extermination."[17] Earlier in September, some of Hezbollah's most severe setbacks occurred,[18][19][20] including the 17 and 18 September explosions of its handheld communication devices and the 20 September assassination of Ibrahim Aqil, commander of the elite Redwan Force.[21][22] Since 23 September 2024, when Israel began its airstrikes on Lebanon, Israeli attacks have killed over 700 people,[23] injured more than 5,000,[24][25][26] and displaced hundreds of thousands of Lebanese civilians.[27]
Background
Part of a series on |
Hezbollah |
---|
The day after Hamas's 7 October 2023 attacks on Israel, Hezbollah fired rockets at the Shebaa Farms, claiming solidarity with the "Palestinian people".[28][29][30] This quickly escalated into regular cross-border military exchanges with Israel, impacting northern Israel, southern Lebanon and the Golan Heights.[31] Hezbollah condemned the killing of civilians in Gaza,[32][33] and said it aimed to pressure Israel by forcing it to fight on two fronts.[34] Hezbollah has offered an immediate ceasefire should a ceasefire also happen in Gaza.[35][36] From 8 October 2023 to 20 September 2024, Hezbollah has launched 1,900 cross border attacks, and Israel has launched 8,300.[37] The fighting killed 52 in Israel (including 27 civilians), 564 in Lebanon (including 133 civilians),[38] and displaced entire communities in Israel and Lebanon,[38] with significant damage to civilian infrastructure.[39]
In July, another senior Hezbollah military leader, Fuad Shukr, was also assassinated in Beirut.[40] On 10 September, the Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel was shifting its focus from Gaza to the northern border.[41]
On 17 and 18 September, thousands of handheld pagers and walkie-talkies exploded in a coordinated series of attacks.[42] The explosions killed 42 people and injured at least 3,500, including many civilians.[43][44][45] An unnamed Hezbollah official told Reuters 1,500 Hezbollah fighters were taken out of action by injuries.[46] Despite Israel denying involvement with the attack,[47] unnamed Israeli sources told Reuters and other media that it was orchestrated by Israel's intelligence service (Mossad) and military.[48][49][42]
In response, Hezbollah, who described the attack as a possible declaration of war by Israel, launched a rocket attack on northern Israel a few days later.[50][51] On 20 September 2024, tensions further rose after Ibrahim Aqil was killed in an Israeli strike in Beirut, along with other senior commanders from the unit.[52][53] After advising Lebanese citizens to evacuate, Israel began airstrikes on 23 September.[54]
On 25 September, the United States and the European Union released a statement calling for a 21-day ceasefire.[55] The statement was also signed by Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and Qatar.[56] US officials said that Netanyahu had agreed to this, but the next day Netanyahu denied any involvement in this plan, leaving US officials reportedly "furious".[57] Netanyahu later backtracked, saying he shared the aims of the US proposal.[57] According to Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib, Nasrallah had agreed to the temporary ceasefire days before the assassination.[58]
Hassan Nasrallah
Hassan Nasrallah was a political leader in the Amal Movement, but left after the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon began. He joined Hezbollah shortly after it was formed, and was elected the secretary-general of Hezbollah in 1992.[59][60] He immediately set out to focus Hezbollah on fighting the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon. He led Hezbollah to fight against the 1993 and 1996 Israeli military operations, and after the Qana massacre, his popularity skyrocketed in Lebanon.[61] His time in command transformed Hezbollah into the world's most heavily armed non-state actor,[62] with its paramilitary wing surpassing the Lebanese Army in strength.[63][64] His speeches frequently included anti-Israeli and anti-Western sentiments.[65] Nasrallah also closely aligned with Iran, and influenced Hezbollah in other significant ways throughout his tenure.[66]
In the 1990s, Nasrallah was popular among Lebanese Shi'ites—and to a certain extent in the Arab and Muslim worlds[67]—but he was much disliked by the Israeli and American governments.[68] However, Hezbollah's role in ambushing an Israeli border patrol unit leading up to the 2006 Lebanon War was subject to local and regional criticism.[69] During the Syrian civil war, Hezbollah fought on the side of Bashar al-Assad. While Hezbollah helped Assad stay in power, Hezbollah's popularity sharply declined given that Assad had become a pariah in the Arab world.[70]
Under his leadership, Hezbollah faced criticism for its alleged involvement in the 2005 assassination of Lebanese PM Rafic Hariri[71] and the 2020 Beirut port explosion.[71][72] He has also consistently promoted the "Axis of Resistance," a network of Iran-supported militias focused on opposing Israel and the United States.[73] Hezbollah's popularity surged again after the start of the Israel-Hezbollah hostilities in October 2023.[70]
In October 1992, Israel tried to assassinate Nasrallah.[68] In May 2004, Lebanese officials said they foiled an Israeli plot to kill Nasrallah.[74][68] In the 2006 war, Israel dropped many bombs on buildings that may have housed Nasrallah.[68]
A US official told ABC News that Nasrallah and several associates were in Beirut for a brief visit during the strike.[75] According to The New York Times, Israeli leaders had tracked Hassan Nasrallah's location for months and opted to target him a week before the assassination, believing they had a limited timeframe before he moved elsewhere.[5]
Attack
On 27 September 2024, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) conducted an airstrike on Hezbollah's central headquarters located in the Haret Hreik neighborhood, in the Dahieh suburb of Beirut.[7] Media reports confirmed that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was the target of the airstrike. Nasrallah and other senior Hezbollah leaders were meeting in a bunker more than 60 feet (18 m) underground.[76] According to Le Parisien, citing a Lebanese security source, an Iranian mole was responsible for informing the IDF of Nasrallah's whereabouts before the strike occured.[77][78][79]
The strike was either conducted by the 119th "Bat" Squadron with F-16I Sufa jet-fighters or by the 69th Squadron with F-15I Ra'ams.[80][66] Two officials said that over 80 bombs were dropped within minutes during the operation, though they did not specify the bombs' weight or type.[5] Another official stated the munition was dropped within 10 seconds and were priced at 25 million Shekels.[81] US analysts believe the IDF dropped more than fifteen US-made bombs (either BLU-109s or Mark 84s weighing 2,000 pounds (910 kg) each), with a JDAM kit, to kill Nasrallah.[82][83]
The strike occurred shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the United Nations General Assembly to say that Israel's campaign against Hezbollah would continue.[7] The Prime Minister's Office shared a photo that it says shows Netanyahu approving the airstrike. The image reportedly features Netanyahu in his New York hotel with his military secretary and chief of staff, prior to addressing the UN.[84]
There was no immediate information on casualties in the strike. IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari stated Hezbollah's main headquarters were the target, located beneath residential buildings. Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV reported that four buildings were reduced to rubble as a result of the explosion, which was so powerful that tremors were felt up to 30 kilometres (19 mi) north of Beirut. Ambulances were seen heading to the scene, accompanied by wailing sirens.[7] According to the National News Agency, the raids created a belt of fire that extended from the outskirts of Bourj el-Barajneh to Haret Hreik.[85] Footage taken shortly after the explosion revealed a large crater.[86]
Aftermath
Confirmation of Nasrallah's death
On 28 September 2024, Nasrallah's death was announced by the IDF.[8][9] Hezbollah confirmed it later that day,[87][88] ending the uncertainty over his condition.[89] On 29 September 2024, Nasrallah's body was recovered with no obvious wounds; according to Reuters, two sources suggested he had died from blunt force trauma sustained during the attack.[90]
Other casualties
The area struck by Israel is known to be densely populated. The impacted area consisted of civilian apartment buildings built over subterranean Hezbollah facilities; several structures were completely reduced to rubble and widespread destruction could be seen in the aftermath of the strike.[91] Initial estimates from Israeli defense officials suggest that around 300 people were killed, potentially including Nasrallah's daughter.[3] The Lebanese health ministry reported at least 33 fatalities and 195 injuries as of 28 September, though most of the rubble has not been searched yet, and the number is almost certain to rise as dozens are missing.[11]
Hezbollah also confirmed the death of Ali Karaki, commander of Hezbollah's Southern Front, along with other senior commanders.[92][93][94] Abbas Nilforoushan, deputy commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and commander of the Quds Force in Lebanon, was also killed.[12]
Succession
Naim Qassem was named as the interim leader of Hezbollah, immediately following the announcement of Nasrallah's death.[95] Al Jazeera had identified Qassem as a possible successor[96] and other reports pointed to Hashem Safieddine, Hezbollah's second in command, as the next Secretary-General. Safieddine, Nasrallah's cousin and also a cleric, reportedly survived the attack on the Hezbollah headquarters.[97] Lebanese sources have also mentioned Ibrahim Amin al-Sayyed, head of the Political Council of Hezbollah, as a potential candidate for the position of Secretary-General.[98]
On 29 September 2024, Safieddine was announced as the permanent secretary-general of Hezbollah, according to Al Arabiya, which was denied by Hezbollah.[99] Safieddine was targeted during another Israeli airstrike in Beirut on 3 October,[100][101][102] with Hezbollah confirming Safieddine's death on 23 October after his body was found.[103]
Reactions
Domestic
Hezbollah and allies
Hezbollah said it would continue its fight against Israel. After the announcement of Nasrallah's death, the Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar TV aired Quran verses.[104] Hezbollah supporters took to the streets mourning his death and gunfire was heard.[105] On 30 September, Hezbollah's acting leader, Naim Kassem, said the group's struggle would continue, and that it was prepared to face an Israeli ground assault.[106]
The Amal Movement, another Shia political group in Lebanon, said that the death of Nasrallah would not weaken the resistance. It called Nasrallah a "martyr" and pledged to remain "shoulder to shoulder, heart to heart, and arm to arm" against Israel.[107] Hezbollah's Christian ally Michel Aoun gave condolences to Nasrallah's family, saying: "Lebanon has lost an exceptional leader who led the national resistance."[108]
Lebanese government
Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati denounced the attack, calling Lebanese civilians to "stand united in the face of aggression".[109] He declared three days of mourning in Lebanon,[110] beginning on 30 September, with flags to fly at half-staff on public buildings.[111]
In Beirut, Lebanese army tanks were deployed near the Burj Al Ghazal bridge to prevent clashes between Shia and Christian neighborhoods.[112] In the eastern part of the city, where Hezbollah's political rivals hold influence, some residents reacted to Nasrallah's death with a mix of surprise and celebration.[112]
Iran
Following the strike on 27 September, The New York Times reported that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei convened an emergency meeting of the Supreme National Security Council at his residence.[113] Officials told Reuters that Khamenei had moved to a secure location in Iran under increased security measures.[114]
On 28 September, in response to the IDF's announcement of Nasrallah's assassination, Khamenei urged Muslims to support Hezbollah and the Lebanese people in confronting Israel's "wicked regime". Khamenei declared five days of mourning across the country for Nasrallah.[115] President Masoud Pezeshkian said the attack would only "strengthen the resistance" and that the international community would not forget that the "terrorist attack" was ordered from New York, where Netanyahu was at the time of the attack.[116] Some in Iran gathered in central locations to perform Shia mourning rituals, waving Hezbollah flags and chanting ballads.[117]
On 29 September, the New York Times reported that Iranian officials debated how to respond to Nasrallah's death. At a high-level meeting, conservative members, including Saeed Jalili, urged a swift retaliatory strike on Israel as deterrence. President Pezeshkian reportedly cautioned against falling into a trap for a larger war. Other moderates warned that attacking Israel could lead to devastating strikes on Iran's infrastructure, given the country's struggling economy.[118]
Iran cited the attack on Hezbollah headquarters as one of the causes of the October 2024 Iranian strikes against Israel.[119]
Israel
IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi stated, "This is not the end of our toolbox," adding that "those who threaten the citizens of the State of Israel – we will know how to reach them – in the North, in the South, and even in more distant places."[109]
After the attack, Israel reportedly hacked Beirut airport's control tower, warning an Iranian cargo plane not to land under threat of attack. The Lebanese Transport Minister said he intervened promptly and prevented the aircraft from landing.[120]
International
- China: The Foreign Ministry said that Israel is violating Lebanese sovereignty after the attacks.[121]
- Cuba: President Miguel Díaz-Canel condemned the "cowardly selective murder" of Nasrallah.[122]
- France: The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs stated they were contacting the Lebanese authority to avoid further instability after the attack.[123]
- Germany: Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the attack was "highly dangerous" and risked destabilising Lebanon, adding this was "in no way in Israel's security interest".[124]
- Iraq: Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani and cleric Muqtada al-Sadr declared three days of mourning across the country.[125] Demonstrations in support of Nasrallah broke out in Basra and Karbala Governorates and in Baghdad, blocking roads to the Green Zone. The Grand Ayatollah of Iraq Ali al-Sistani condemned the killing, saying Nasrallah was important for Palestinian resistance and the fight against ISIS.[126]
- Pakistan: In Karachi, people went to the streets to protest against the assassination of Nasrallah, culminating in clashes with the police.[127]
- Palestine: Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority offered his condolences after the attack. The Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization offered condolences for the "martyrdom of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and the civilian victims killed by the Israeli occupation's onslaught".[128] Hamas issued a statement mourning Nasrallah.[129]
- Russia: The Foreign Ministry condemned Israel's assassination, warning it could escalate violence in the Middle East, and called for an immediate halt to hostilities.[130] Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the country was concerned about the Israeli airstrike which killed Nasrallah.[131]
- South Africa: The Foreign Ministry condemned the "extrajudicial killings" and stated its solidarity with the Lebanese authorities.[132]
- Syria: The Foreign Ministry condemned the attack.[133] The Syrian Social Nationalist Party released a statement mourning Nasrallah.[134] In rebel-controlled Idlib, locals celebrated Nasrallah's death for the suffering and deaths caused during the Syrian civil war.[73][135][136]
- Turkey: Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Nasrallah was an important figure for Lebanon and the Middle East and will be hard to replace.[137]
- United States: President Joe Biden said Nasrallah's death "was a measure of justice for his many victims", including thousands of civilians in the United States, Israel, and Lebanon. He reiterated the US' support for Israel against "Iranian-supported terrorist groups." Biden said the defense secretary would bolster US military forces in the Middle East to prevent a regional war, while maintaining diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.[138][139] Vice President Kamala Harris expressed support for Israel's attack on Hezbollah headquarters.[140][141]
- Venezuela: President Nicolás Maduro condemned the killing and called on the "Arab people to raise their voice."[142]
Militant groups
The Yemeni Houthi movement issued statements mourning Nasrallah.[112] A surface-to-surface ballistic missile launched from Yemen towards central Israel was shot down by the Arrow defense system.[143][144]
Kata'ib Hezbollah blamed "Zionist-American aggression" for Nasrallah's death while Ashab al Kahf warned that any participants or backers of the attack were part of its "upcoming target bank."[145]
Analysis
The Israeli Air Force is believed to have used US-made 2,000-pound (910 kg) BLU-109 bunker buster bombs with JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition) guidance kits in the strikes that killed Hassan Nasrallah.[146][147]
The Economist noted that "Nasrallah's death will reshape Lebanon, and the region, in ways that would have been unthinkable a year ago." According to the newspaper, "Whoever takes the reins will face the most precarious moment in Hezbollah's four-decade history. It is not just that Israel has wiped out almost its entire military leadership, erasing centuries of experience in a matter of two months. It is also that the group stands humiliated in front of a Lebanese public that had already come to resent Hezbollah for its heavy-handed domination of politics."[73]
Writing in The New York Times, Farnaz Fassihi said the assassination of Nasrallah eliminated a key figure of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's inner circle, as Iran had spent forty years developing Hezbollah as a frontline defense against Israel.[118] Fassihi said that Iran had, over time, activated a broader network of militant groups, including Hezbollah, to open multiple fronts against Israel, aiming to create regional chaos and pressure both the U.S. and Israel into negotiating a ceasefire with Hamas.[118]
Writing for The Wall Street Journal, Yaroslav Trofimov reported that Israel's assaults on Hezbollah, marked by significant intelligence penetration and culminating in Nasrallah's death, highlight the group's miscalculation regarding both Israel's resilience and Iran's power. According to their analysis, "In retrospect, this was the outcome of Nasrallah’s making two strategic mistakes: grossly underestimating Israel, his foe, and overestimating the abilities of his patron, Iran, and its network of allied militant groups in the region."[148]
In The Guardian, Peter Beaumont said the killing had raised questions about the effectiveness of Israel’s "campaign of assassinations", noting that the 1992 killing of Abbas al-Musawi, secretary general of Hezbollah, only led to the succession of Hassan Nasrallah. He said it "may take months" to see any impact from Israel's assassinations upon Hezbollah.[149]
According to The Washington Post, the killing of Nasrallah "left a shaken Lebanon ... a void the militant group might struggle to fill, and its battle with Israel on an uncertain and possibly more violent path."[110] In The Daily Telegraph, Adrian Blomfield stated that the assassination "may forever cripple Hezbollah, weaken Iranian influence and potentially even reshape the Middle East itself." He added that the recent strikes showed Hezbollah had been "clearly infiltrated at all levels" by Israel, and that Hezbollah and Iran "might possibly be facing a slow but terminal decline".[150]
See also
- 20 September 2024 Beirut attack
- Assassination of Abbas al-Musawi
- Assassination of Imad Mughniyeh
- Assassination of Saleh al-Arouri
- Assassination of Ismail Haniyeh
- Assassination of Qasem Soleimani
- September 2024 Lebanon strikes
References
- ^ "Hezbollah Confirms Leader Nasrallah's Death". Barron's. AFP. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ a b c "Hezbollah confirms its leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike". AP News. 28 September 2024. Archived from the original on 28 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ a b c "Israel Targets Hezbollah Chief Nasrallah in Massive Beirut Strike; Israeli Officials Estimate 300 Killed". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 27 September 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
- ^ Epstein, Jake. "Israel appeared to use US-made 2,000-pound bombs in the strike that killed Hezbollah's chief". Business Insider. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ a b c Bergman, Ronen; Kingsley, Patrick (28 September 2024). "Israel Tracked Nasrallah for Months Before Assassination, Officials Say". The New York Times.
- ^ "Israeli airstrikes rock Beirut, target Hezbollah command". Reuters. 27 September 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Israel says it struck Hezbollah's headquarters as huge explosions rocked Beirut". AP News. 27 September 2024. Archived from the original on 27 September 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
- ^ a b IDF Spokesperson's Unit (28 September 2024). "Press Briefing by IDF Spokesperson RAdm. Daniel Hagari - September 28, 2024". IDF. Archived from the original on 28 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ a b Pasko, Simcha (28 September 2024). "IDF Confirms Death of Hezbollah Chief Nasrallah in Beirut Strike". The Media Line. Archived from the original on 28 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ "Nasrallah's body recovered from rubble two days after assassination". Ynetnews. 29 September 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
- ^ a b Lau, Chris; Nicholls, Catherine; Tanno, Sophie; Vogt, Adrienne; Powell, Tori B.; Meyer, Matt; Iyer, Kaanita; Raine, Andrew (28 September 2024). "Israel Says It Targeted Hezbollah Leader in Strikes on Beirut: Live Updates". CNN. Archived from the original on 28 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ a b "IRGC deputy commander killed in Israeli strikes on Beirut – Iranian media". The Jerusalem Post. 28 September 2024. Archived from the original on 28 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ "In blistering UN speech, Netanyahu says Israel seeks peace but will fight until victory". Times of Israel. 27 September 2024. Archived from the original on 29 September 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
- ^ "Israel-Lebanon latest: Explosions in Beirut after Netanyahu vows to keep fighting Hezbollah". BBC News. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
- ^ "Lebanese Prime Minister says Israel's attack on southern Beirut proves it 'does not care' about international calls for a cease-fire". NBC News. 28 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ Harvey, Lex; Tanno, Sophie; Sangal, Aditi; John, Tara; Powell, Tori B. (27 September 2024). "Israel carries out deadly strikes on Lebanon's capital". CNN. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ "Lebanon PM denounces Israel's 'destructive plan' amid IDF strikes on Hezbollah". Times of Israel. 23 September 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
- ^ Byman, Daniel (24 September 2024). "The Beeper Balance Sheet". Foreign Policy. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
- ^ "Arab states watch Hezbollah deterrence weakened, Israeli deterrence restored – analysis". The Jerusalem Post. 20 September 2024. Archived from the original on 24 September 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
- ^ "Cold military logic takes over in Israel-Hezbollah conflict". www.bbc.com. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
- ^ "Israeli strikes kill 492 in Lebanon's deadliest day of conflict since 2006". AP News. 23 September 2024. Archived from the original on 24 September 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
- ^ "Hezbollah commander killed in Israeli airstrike was top military official on US wanted list". AP News. 20 September 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ Rowlands, Lyndal; McCready, Alastair; Quillen, Stephen; Mohamed, Edna; Siddiqui, Usaid; Najjar, Farah. "Israel attacks Lebanon updates: Unequivocal US support for Israel's wars". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
- ^ "Death toll nears 500 in Israeli strikes on Lebanon, health ministry says". France 24. 23 September 2024. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
- ^ Rowlands, Lyndal; McCready, Alastair; Quillen, Stephen; Mohamed, Edna; Siddiqui, Usaid; Najjar, Farah. "Israel attacks Lebanon updates: Unequivocal US support for Israel's wars". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
- ^ "Israel-Hezbollah latest: Israel launches fresh strikes on Lebanon; next potential Hezbollah leader said to have survived". Sky News. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
- ^ "'We're already at war', Lebanese minister says - as he warns of 'catastrophic' number of casualties from Israeli airstrikes". Sky News. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
- ^ "Israel, Hezbollah exchange artillery, rocket fire".
- ^ "Hezbollah bombards Israeli positions in disputed area along border with Syria's Golan Heights". AP News. 8 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
- ^ "Hezbollah fires on Israel after several members killed in shelling". Al Jazeera. Al-Jazeera.
- ^ "Hezbollah bombards Israeli positions in disputed area along border with Syria's Golan Heights". AP News. 8 October 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
- ^ "Iran-backed groups threaten to expand Gaza war as they step up attacks on Israel and U.S." NBC News. 7 November 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
- ^ "Hezbollah warns of regional war if Gaza bombing goes on". 8 November 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
- ^ Stroul, Dana (23 September 2024). "Israel and Hezbollah Are Escalating Toward Catastrophe". Foreign Affairs. ISSN 0015-7120. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
- ^ "Hezbollah warns of regional war if Gaza bombing goes on". 8 November 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
- ^ "Violence escalates between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah amid Gaza assault". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
- ^ "Mapping 10,000 cross-border attacks between Israel and Lebanon". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
- ^ a b "Lebanon: Flash Update #25 – Escalation of hostilities in South Lebanon, as of 23 August 2024 – Lebanon". United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. 27 August 2024. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ "Israel-Hezbollah: Mapping the scale of damage of cross-border attacks". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
- ^ "Israeli strike targets senior Hezbollah commander in Lebanon's capital Beirut". 30 July 2024. Archived from the original on 30 July 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
- ^ "Israel close to completing Gaza missions, focus on north, defence minister says". Reuters. 10 September 2024.
- ^ a b Kent, Lauren (17 September 2024). "Israel behind deadly pager explosions that targeted Hezbollah and injured thousands in Lebanon". CNN. Archived from the original on 19 September 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
- ^ Christou, William (20 September 2024). "'We are isolated, tired, scared': pager attack leaves Lebanon in shock". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- ^ Hijazi, S. (20 September 2024). "Nasrallah: We suffered a 'hard blow'... but Israel failed". L'Orient-Le Jour. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ Brennan, David; El-Bawab, Nadine (18 September 2024). "20 more dead, 450 injured as new round of explosions rocks Lebanon: Health officials". ABC News. Archived from the original on 20 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ Bassam, Lailla; Mackenzie, James (25 September 2024). "Hezbollah's tunnels and flexible command weather Israel's deadly blows". Reuters.
- ^ "Israel-Lebanon latest: Israel had 'no connection' with deadly exploding pager attack, president claims". The Independent. 22 September 2024. Archived from the original on 22 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- ^ Skopeliti, Clea (18 September 2024). "First Thing: Israel planted explosives in thousands of Hezbollah pagers – reports". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
Israel placed explosives inside thousands of pagers imported by Hezbollah months before Tuesday's extraordinary attacks, according to sources cited by Reuters and US media.
- ^ Frenkel, Sheera; Bergman, Ronen; Saad, Hwaida (18 September 2024). "How Israel Built a Modern-Day Trojan Horse: Exploding Pagers". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 20 September 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
Even before Mr. Nasrallah decided to expand pager usage, Israel had put into motion a plan to establish a shell company that would pose as an international pager producer. By all appearances, B.A.C. Consulting was a Hungary-based company that was under contract to produce the devices on behalf of a Taiwanese company, Gold Apollo. In fact, it was part of an Israeli front, according to three intelligence officers briefed on the operation. They said at least two other shell companies were created as well to mask the real identities of the people creating the pagers: Israeli intelligence officers.
- ^ "Dozens of Hezbollah members wounded in Lebanon when pagers exploded, sources and witnesses say". Reuters. 17 September 2024. Archived from the original on 18 September 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
- ^ "Hezbollah Chief Nasrallah: Israel Crossed All Red Lines, This Is a Declaration of War". Haaretz. 19 September 2024. Archived from the original on 21 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ Westfall, Sammy; George, Susannah (20 September 2024). "Who was Ibrahim Aqil, the Hezbollah leader killed in Israeli strike?". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on 20 September 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
- ^ Jalabi, Raya; Shotter, James (21 September 2024). "Israel kills elite Hizbollah commanders in Beirut strike". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 21 September 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
- ^ Kingsley, Patrick; Boxerman, Aaron (23 September 2024). "Israel and Hezbollah Trade Heavy Fire; Over 180 Killed in Lebanon, Officials Say". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ "Netanyahu dismisses Hezbollah cease-fire push, confounding White House". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 27 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ "Joint Statement by the United States, Australia, Canada, European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Qatar". The White House. 26 September 2024. Archived from the original on 28 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ a b "Israel conducts massive strike in Beirut targeting Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah". Retrieved 29 September 2024.
- ^ Suri, Pauline Lockwood, Manveena (3 October 2024). "Hezbollah leader agreed to temporary ceasefire days before assassination, says Lebanese FM". CNN. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Who is Hassan Nasrallah? The leader of Hezbollah and his impact on Lebanon and Israel". The Jerusalem Post. 27 September 2024. Archived from the original on 27 September 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
- ^ Daher 2019, p. 156-158.
- ^ Daher 2019, p. 159.
- ^ Robinson, Lou (24 August 2024). "Hezbollah: What weapons does it have? A visual guide". CNN. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
- ^ Barnard, Anne (20 May 2013). "Hezbollah's Role in Syria War Shakes the Lebanese". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2 May 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
Hezbollah, stronger than the Lebanese Army, has the power to drag the country into war without a government decision, as in 2006, when it set off the war by capturing two Israeli soldiers
- ^ Morris, Loveday (12 June 2013). "For Lebanon's Sunnis, growing rage at Hezbollah over role in Syria". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
... Hezbollah, which has a fighting force generally considered more powerful than the Lebanese army.
- ^ "Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Hizbullah". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613. Archived from the original on 28 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ a b "Did Israel succeed in eliminating its number one enemy? – analysis". The Jerusalem Post. 27 September 2024. Archived from the original on 27 September 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
- ^ Daher 2019, p. 165.
- ^ a b c d Daher 2019, p. 169.
- ^ Norton, Augustus R. (2018). Hezbollah: a short history. Princeton studies in Muslim politics (3rd ed.). Princeton Oxford: Princeton University Press. p. 69. ISBN 978-0-691-18088-5.
- ^ a b "Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah transformed the militant group into a potent regional force". AP News. 28 September 2024. Archived from the original on 28 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ a b Khatib, Lina; Matar, Dina; Alshaer, Atef (2014). The Hizbullah phenomenon: politics and communication. London: Hurst & Company. p. 79. ISBN 978-1-84904-335-9.
- ^ "Lebanon's powerhouse Hezbollah hit by backlash after blast". AP News. 30 August 2020. Archived from the original on 29 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ a b c "Hassan Nasrallah's death will reshape Lebanon and the Middle East". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613. Archived from the original on 28 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ "Nasr Allah murder plot: five charged". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 27 September 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ Eichner, Itamar; Yehoshua, Yossi (27 September 2024). "'Nasrallah was present at command center,' Israeli officials say". Ynetnews. Archived from the original on 27 September 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
- ^ Jared Malsin; Summer Said; Adam Chamseddine; Anat Peled (28 September 2024). "How Israel Killed Hezbollah's Leader in Underground Bunker". Wall Street Journal.
- ^ "Iranian mole helped Israel kill Hezbollah leader – Le Parisien". Iran International. 29 September 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ "How an Iranian spy's intel uncovered Hezbollah leader's location just before Israel's strategic airstrike". The Economic Times. 30 September 2024. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ "Iran spy's tip-off helped Israel kill Hezbollah chief Nasrallah: Report". India Today. 29 September 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ Fabian, Emanuel (28 September 2024). "Senior IAF officials say strike that killed Nasrallah pulled off flawlessly". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ Lior, Gad (20 October 2024). "NIS 25 million in 10 seconds: The cost of Hassan Nasrallah assassination". Ynetnews. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
- ^ Cheeseman, Abbie; Kelly, Meg; Piper, Imogen (30 September 2024). "Israel likely used U.S.-made 2,000-pound bombs in Nasrallah strike, visuals show". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
- ^ "Israel used US-made 'bunker buster' bombs in attack on Hezbollah's leader, analysts say". ABC News. 30 September 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ "PM's office says Netanyahu approved Beirut airstrike from his hotel room". Times of Israel. 27 September 2024.
- ^ "The enemy raid on the suburb was a belt of fire that extended from the outskirts of Burj al-Barajneh camp and reaching Haret Hreik. (In Arabic)". National News Agency. 27 September 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
- ^ Harvey, Lex; Tanno, Sophie; Sangal, Aditi; John, Tara (27 September 2024). "Huge explosions rock Beirut as Netanyahu says Israel has 'every right' to fight Hezbollah". CNN. Archived from the original on 27 September 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
- ^ Lubell, Maayan; Gebeily, Maya (28 September 2024). "Israel kills Hezbollah leader Nasrallah in airstrike". Reuters. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ "حزب الله ينعى أمينه العام حسن نصر الله" [Hezbollah mourns its secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah]. Al Jazeera (in Arabic). 28 September 2024. Archived from the original on 28 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ Ben-Yishai, Ron (27 September 2024). "Nasrallah's fate may remain unknown for days after powerful bombings". Ynetnews. Archived from the original on 27 September 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
- ^ "Body of Hezbollah leader has been recovered, sources say". Reuters. 29 September 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
- ^ Hamdi Alkhshali and Vasco Cotovio. "Several buildings flattened after Israeli strikes, Lebanese state news agency reports". CNN. Archived from the original on 27 September 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
- ^ Fabian, Emanuel (29 September 2024). "Hezbollah confirms commander of Southern Front, Ali Karaki, killed alongside Nasrallah". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 29 September 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
- ^ "Israel tracked Nasrallah for months before the assassination, officials say". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ "BREAKING: Hezbollah confirms Nasrallah is killed after Israeli strike". Middle East Monitor. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ "Naim Qassem named interim leader of Hezbollah after Nasrallah's death". The Express Tribune. Reuters. 29 September 2024.
- ^ Salhani, Justin. "Who will succeed Hassan Nasrallah as Hezbollah's next leader?". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
- ^ Yang, Maya; Lowe, Yohannes; Mackay, Hamish; Fulton, Adam (28 September 2024). "Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah killed by Israel in major escalation of conflict – Middle East live". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ "العربية: أمين السيد أمينا عاما لحزب الله خلفا لـ هاشم صفي الدين".
- ^ "Safieddine named new Hezbollah leader, report says". Iran International. 29 September 2024.
- ^ Gebeily, Maya; Azhari, Timour; Lubell, Maayan (5 October 2024). "Potential Hezbollah leader out of contact since Friday, Lebanese source says". Reuters. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
- ^ "Hezbollah loses contact with leader seen as Nasrallah's successor: Sources". Al Jazeera. 5 October 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
- ^ "Report: Israeli sources say Nasrallah's presumed successor Safieddine killed in airstrike". Times of Israel. 5 October 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
- ^ "Hezbollah confirms that top official Hashem Safieddine, expected to be group's next leader, killed in Israeli airstrike". Yahoo News. 23 October 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
- ^ "Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah confirmed killed in Beirut attack". The Jerusalem Post. 28 September 2024. Archived from the original on 28 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ Gebeily, Maya (28 September 2024). "Shots in the air, wails and disbelief in Beirut after Hezbollah head killed". Reuters. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ "Hezbollah's acting leader vows to fight on after Nasrallah's death". Associated Press. 30 September 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ "Amal Movement says Nasrallah's killing will only increase resistance". Al Jazeera. 28 September 2024.
- ^ "Missile launched from Lebanon towards Jerusalem intercepted by Israeli army; Houthis say they targeted Tel Aviv airport: Day 358 of the Gaza and Lebanon wars". L'Orient Le Jour. 28 September 2024. Archived from the original on 28 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ a b "Lebanon PM condemns Israeli attack that killed Nasrallah, civilians". Al Jazeera. 28 September 2024.
- ^ a b Fahim, Kareem; George, Susannah; El Chamaa, Mohamad; Cheeseman, Abbie (29 September 2024). "Nasrallah's death stuns Lebanon, as Israel pummels Beirut". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 28 September 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
- ^ "Lebanon declares three days of mourning for slain Hezbollah chief". Al Jazeera. 28 September 2024.
- ^ a b c "Live Updates: Hezbollah Confirms Leader's Death in Israeli Airstrike". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 28 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ "Live Updates: Israel Targets Hezbollah Leader in Strike on Residential Buildings Near Beirut". The New York Times. 27 September 2024. Archived from the original on 27 September 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
- ^ "Iran's Supreme Leader moved to secure location under heightened security, sources say". Reuters. 28 September 2024.
- ^ "Iran's supreme leader declares 5 days of mourning for slain Hezbollah chief". Al Jazeera. 28 September 2024.
- ^ "Iranian president says Nasrallah killing to 'strengthen resistance'". Al Jazeera. 28 September 2024.
- ^ "Live Updates: Hezbollah Confirms Leader's Death in Israeli Airstrike". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 28 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ a b c Fassihi, Farnaz (29 September 2024). "Iran Projects Caution After Israeli Strikes Against Hezbollah". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 29 September 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
- ^ "US sees indications of imminent Iranian missile attack on Israel". Reuters.
- ^ "Israel reportedly hacks Beirut airport control tower, warns Iranian plane not to land". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 28 September 2024. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
- ^ "'Tension between Lebanon and Israel is a spillover of the Gaza conflict': China". Al Jazeera. 28 September 2024.
- ^ "Cuba condena el asesinato del líder de Hizbulá tras el bombardeo de Israel en Beirut" [Cuba condemns the killing of the leader of Hezbollah after Israel's bombing of Beirut]. Infobae (in Spanish). 28 September 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ "France says working to prevent 'destabilisation' following Nasrallah's killing". Al Jazeera. 28 September 2024.
- ^ "Lebanon destabilisation 'not in Israel's security interest': Germany". Al Jazeera. 28 September 2024.
- ^ "Iraq declares three days of mourning after Nasrallah killing". Al Jazeera. 28 September 2024.
- ^ "Iraq's Green Zone blocked by protests following Nasrallah killing". Al Jazeera. 28 September 2024.
- ^ Clashes as Pakistanis protest over Hezbollah leader’s killing | AJ #shorts. Retrieved 8 October 2024 – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ "Mahmoud Abbas offers condolences to Lebanon after Nasrallah's killing". Al Jazeera. 28 September 2024.
- ^ "Hamas mourns Hezbollah leader's killing". Al Jazeera. 28 September 2024.
- ^ Jamal, Urooba; Marsi, Federica. "Israel hits Beirut again after Hezbollah confirms Nasrallah's killing". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ "Russia condemns 'killing of Palestinian civilians by American weapons'". Al Jazeera. 28 September 2024.
- ^ "South Africa denounces Israel's 'indiscriminate' attacks on Lebanon". Al Jazeera. 28 September 2024.
- ^ "Syria condemns 'despicable' Israeli killing of Nasrallah". Al Jazeera. 28 September 2024.
- ^ "SSNP mourns Nasrallah, pledges to continue the march". National News Agency. 28 September 2024.
- ^ "Hezbollah's Victims Express Relief at Its Disarray". The New York Times. 28 September 2024. Archived from the original on 29 September 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
- ^ Mahlool, Fared Al; Yan, Sophia (28 September 2024). "Syrians take to the streets to celebrate Hassan Nasrallah's death". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 28 September 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
- ^ "Turkey says Israel won't stop attacking Lebanon". Al Jazeera. 28 September 2024.
- ^ "Biden: Nasrallah's death was 'measure of justice' for his many victims". The Jerusalem Post. 28 September 2024. Archived from the original on 28 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ "Statement from President Joe Biden on the Death of Hassan Nasrallah". The White House. 28 September 2024. Archived from the original on 28 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ "Biden, Harris call Israeli killing of Hezbollah's Nasrallah 'measure of justice'". VOA News. 28 September 2024.
- ^ "US political leaders rally behind Israel after Nasrallah killing". Al Jazeera. 28 September 2024.
- ^ "Nicolás Maduro se solidarizó con Hezbollah por la muerte de Hassan Nasrallah y arengó al mundo árabe a "levantar su voz"" [Nicolás Maduro showed solidarity with Hezbollah over the death of Hassan Nasrallah and egged on the Arab World to "raise their voice"]. Clarín (in Spanish). 30 September 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ "Yemen's Houthis mourn slain Hezbollah chief, say resistance will not be broken". Reuters. 28 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ Fabian, Emanuel (28 September 2024). "IDF says missile fired from Yemen shot down outside of country's borders". Times of Israel.
- ^ "Institute for the Study of War". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ "Israel likely used U.S.-made 2,000-pound bombs in Nasrallah strike, visuals show". The Washington Post. 29 September 2024.
- ^ "US-made 2,000-pound bombs likely used in strike that killed Hezbollah chief Nasrallah, CNN analysis shows". CNN. 30 September 2024.
- ^ Trofimov, Yaroslav (29 September 2024). "Hezbollah Misjudged Israel's Weakness and Iran's Might". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 29 September 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
- ^ Beaumont, Peter (29 September 2024). "Impact of Hezbollah assassinations may take months to emerge". The Guardian.
- ^ Blomfield, Adrian (28 September 2024). "How Israel killed Hezbollah's leader Nasrallah and crippled the enemy on its border". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 28 September 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
Sources
- Daher, Aurélie (2019). Hezbollah: Mobilization and Power. Translated by Henry W. Randolph. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780190092634. OCLC 1104064646.
- 2024 airstrikes
- 2024 building bombings
- 2020s in Beirut
- September 2024 events in Lebanon
- Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon
- Assassinations in Lebanon
- Building bombings in Beirut
- Military assassinations
- Beirut in the Israeli–Lebanese conflict
- Middle Eastern crisis (2023–present)
- Targeted killing by Israel
- Israel–Hezbollah conflict (2023–present)
- Hezbollah
- Baabda District