Israel Says It Killed Hezbollah Leader Nasrallah in Beirut Airstrike

Israel said on Friday that it carried out a precision airstrike on Hezbollah’s headquarters in Beirut, killing longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah in a major escalation of the conflict between the two sides. The Israeli military said the operation targeted senior Hezbollah figures and was conducted earlier in the day.

The strike reportedly killed dozens of people, including senior commanders, according to preliminary casualty reports. Hezbollah has not immediately confirmed Nasrallah’s death, but the attack has already triggered vows of retaliation from the group and from Iran, raising fears of a wider regional confrontation.

The killing of Nasrallah, who led Hezbollah for decades and became one of the Middle East’s most influential militant figures, marks one of the most significant blows to the Iran-backed organization in years. It also comes amid continuing cross-border exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah, which have intensified in recent months.

Officials and analysts warned that the strike could sharply increase tensions across Lebanon and beyond, with both Hezbollah and its allies under pressure to respond. The situation remains fluid, and the risk of further attacks or a broader military escalation appears high as regional powers assess the fallout from the operation.