Nasrallah’s death deals a significant blow to both Hezbollah and Iran, removing a key ally who was instrumental in establishing Hezbollah as a central player in Tehran’s network of allied groups throughout the Arab world. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Nasrallah’s assassination as a critical move to “shift the regional power balance for years ahead.”
“Nasrallah wasn’t just a terrorist, he was the terrorist,” Netanyahu stated, cautioning of tough times ahead. U.S. President Joe Biden labeled Nasrallah’s death as a form of justice for his numerous victims, including thousands of Americans, Israelis, and Lebanese, while reaffirming the U.S.’s full support for Israel’s right to self-defense. However, when asked about the likelihood of an Israeli ground invasion of Lebanon, Biden responded, “It’s time for a ceasefire.”
Additionally, Iranian media reported that Abbas Nilforoushan, a senior deputy commander in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, was killed during Israeli attacks in Beirut on Friday. Sources revealed that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had been relocated to a secure location following Nasrallah’s death.
The Lebanese Health Ministry reported that Israeli airstrikes killed 33 people and injured 195 others on Saturday. The strikes on southern Beirut persisted into the evening, producing large plumes of smoke over the city. One strike hit an industrial area near Beirut’s airport, though operations continued as normal, according to Middle East Airlines chief Mohammad al-Hout.
The Health Ministry added that over 1,000 people had been killed and more than 6,000 wounded from Israeli strikes in the last two weeks, with around a million Lebanese displaced, including hundreds of thousands since Friday, according to Nasser Yassin, the minister overseeing the government’s crisis response.
Israel announced that it killed senior Hezbollah intelligence official Hassan Khalil Yassin in a strike on southern Beirut, though Hezbollah has not confirmed this. Meanwhile, air raid sirens were heard across central Israel, including Tel Aviv, after a missile from Yemen was intercepted by Israeli forces. Another projectile from Lebanon landed in the occupied West Bank, sparking fires but causing no casualties, according to Israeli officials.
Hezbollah issued a statement vowing to continue its fight against Israel in support of Gaza, Palestine, and Lebanon’s people. Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei promised revenge for Nasrallah’s death, asserting that other militants would continue his mission of resisting Israel.
Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati acknowledged the severe threat facing his country but did not directly reference Nasrallah’s death. His office later declared three days of mourning for the Hezbollah leader.
Hezbollah has been engaged in a simultaneous conflict with Israel, alongside Israel’s ongoing war with Hamas in Gaza, which escalated significantly after Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel. In Beirut, Al-Manar TV, Hezbollah’s media outlet, aired Quranic verses following the announcement of Nasrallah’s death. Gunfire was heard in Beirut, and Lebanese tanks were deployed in the city center.
The Israeli military confirmed that Nasrallah was killed in a “targeted strike” on Hezbollah’s underground headquarters located beneath a residential building in the Dahiyeh district of Beirut. The attack also killed senior Hezbollah leader Ali Karaki and other commanders.
Nasrallah’s death marks a significant setback for Hezbollah, particularly after Israel’s recent offensive, which included a strike on the group’s communication devices and a series of airstrikes that have killed several top commanders and civilians across Lebanon.
Hezbollah has not yet named a successor for Nasrallah, though Hashem Safieddine is widely regarded as the likely heir. The group has yet to release any information regarding Safieddine or other leaders, apart from Nasrallah, since the attack.
On Saturday, Hezbollah continued launching rockets across the Israeli border, triggering alarms and sending civilians into shelters. Israeli missile defense systems intercepted some of the rockets, and no injuries were immediately reported.
The escalation has raised concerns that the conflict could spiral out of control, potentially drawing in Iran, Hezbollah’s main supporter, as well as the United States. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stressed that Israel’s fight is not with the Lebanese people, branding Nasrallah as the “killer of thousands of Israelis and foreign nationals.” Gallant held discussions on Saturday about possibly intensifying Israel’s military operations on the northern front.
President Biden, who was not informed in advance about the strike on Nasrallah, said the U.S. remains committed to de-escalating the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon through diplomacy. Hezbollah has stated it will not cease fire until Israel halts its offensive in Gaza. Hamas and Hezbollah’s other allies issued statements mourning Nasrallah’s death. Meanwhile, Russia condemned Nasrallah’s killing and urged Israel to halt its military actions in Lebanon.
NGI 
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