2024 Hezbollah headquarters strike

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 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, romanizedSeder Hadash).

Hezbollah headquarters strike
Part of the September 2024 Lebanon strikes
An F-15I departing an Israeli air base on 27 September 2024, carrying guided ammunition for the airstrike
TypeAirstrike
Location
Haret Hreik, Dahieh, Lebanon

33°51′5″N 35°30′14″E / 33.85139°N 35.50389°E / 33.85139; 35.50389
TargetHassan Nasrallah
Date27 September 2024
Executed by Israeli Air Force
Casualties33+ (including Nasrallah) killed
195+ injured
Dahieh is located in Lebanon
Dahieh
Dahieh
Location within Lebanon

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] Iranian reports indicate that 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

Shortly after the onset of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, Hezbollah joined the conflict, citing solidarity with Palestinians.[28] This quickly escalated into regular cross-border military exchanges with Israel, impacting northern Israel, southern Lebanon and the Golan Heights.[29] Hezbollah condemned the killing of civilians in Gaza,[30][31] and said it aimed to pressure Israel by forcing it to fight on two fronts.[32] Hezbollah has offered an immediate ceasefire should a ceasefire also happen in Gaza.[33][34] From 8 October 2023 to 20 September 2024, Hezbollah has launched 1,900 cross border attacks, and Israel has launched another 8,300.[35] The fighting killed 564 in Lebanon (including 133 civilians),[36] and 52 in Israel (including 27 civilians), displaced entire communities in Israel and Lebanon,[36] with significant damage to civilian infrastructure.[37]

In July, another senior Hezbollah military leader, Fuad Shukr, was also assassinated in Beirut.[38] On September 10, the Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel was shifting its focus from Gaza to the northern border.[39]

On 17 and 18 September, thousands of handheld pagers and walkie-talkies exploded in a coordinated series of attacks.[40] The explosions killed 42 people and injured at least 3,500, including many civilians.[41][42][43] An unnamed Hezbollah official told Reuters 1,500 Hezbollah fighters were taken out of action by injuries.[44] Despite Israel denying involvement with the attack,[45] unnamed Israeli sources told Reuters and other media that it was orchestrated by Israel's intelligence service (Mossad) and military.[46][47][40]

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.[48][49] 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.[50][51] After advising Lebanese citizens to evacuate, Israel began airstrikes on 23 September.[52]

On 25 September, the United States and the European Union released a statement calling for a 21-day ceasefire.[53] The statement was also signed by Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and Qatar.[54] 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".[55] Netanyahu later backtracked, saying he shared the aims of the US proposal.[55]

Hassan Nasrallah

 
Nasrallah, pictured in 2019

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.[56][57] 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.[58] His time in command transformed Hezbollah into the world's most heavily armed non-state actor,[59] with its paramilitary wing surpassing the Lebanese Army in strength.[60][61] His speeches frequently included anti-Israeli and anti-Western sentiments.[62] Nasrallah also closely aligned with Iran, and influenced Hezbollah in other significant ways throughout his tenure.[63]

While in the 1990s, Nasrallah was popular among Lebanese Shi'ites—and to a certain extent in the Arab and Muslim worlds[64]—he was much disliked by the Israeli and American governments.[65] 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.[66] 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.[67]

Hezbollah's popularity surged again after the start of the Israel-Hezbollah hostilities in October 2023.[67] Under his leadership, Hezbollah faced criticism for its alleged involvement in the 2005 assassination of Lebanese PM Rafic Hariri[68] and the 2020 Beirut port explosion.[68][69] He has also consistently promoted the "Axis of Resistance," a network of Iran-supported militias focused on opposing Israel and the United States.[70]

In October 1992, Israel tried to assassinate Nasrallah.[65] In May 2004, Lebanese officials said they foiled an Israeli plot to kill Nasrallah.[71][65] In the 2006 war, Israel dropped many bombs on buildings that may have housed Nasrallah.[65]

A US official told ABC News that Nasrallah and several associates were in Beirut for a brief visit during the strike.[72] 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.[73] 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.[74][75][76]

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.[77][63] 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] According to The New York Times, the IDF used eight planes fitted with more than fifteen Mark 84 bomb (2,000 pounds (910 kg) each), including the US-made BLU-109 with a JDAM kit, to kill Nasrallah.[citation needed]

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.[78]

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.[79] Footage taken shortly after the explosion revealed a large crater.[80]

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,[81][82] ending the uncertainty over his condition.[83] 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.[84]

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.[85] 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.[86][87][88] 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.[89] Al Jazeera had identified Qassem as a possible successor[90] 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.[91]

On 29 September 2024, Safieddine was announced as the permanent secretary-general of Hezbollah, according to Al Arabiya.[92]

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.[93] Hezbollah supporters took to the streets mourning his death and gunfire was heard.[94] 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.[95]

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.[96] Hezbollah's Christian ally Michel Aoun gave condolences to Nasrallah's family, saying: "Lebanon has lost an exceptional leader who led the national resistance."[97]

Lebanese government

Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati denounced the attack, calling Lebanese civilians to "stand united in the face of aggression".[98] He declared three days of mourning in Lebanon,[99] beginning on 30 September, with flags to fly at half-staff on public buildings.[100]

In Beirut, Lebanese army tanks were deployed near the Burj Al Ghazal bridge to prevent clashes between Shia and Christian neighborhoods.[101] 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.[101]

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.[102] Officials told Reuters that Khamenei had moved to a secure location in Iran under increased security measures.[103]

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.[104] 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.[105] Some in Iran gathered in central locations to perform Shia mourning rituals, waving Hezbollah flags and chanting ballads.[106]

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.[107]

Iran cited the attack on Hezbollah headquarters as one of the causes of the October 2024 Iranian strikes against Israel.[108]

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."[98]

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.[109]

International

Militant groups

Yemeni's Houthi movement issued statements mourning Nasrallah.[101]A surface-to-surface ballistic missile launched from Yemen towards central Israel was shot down by the Arrow defense system.[129][130]

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."[131]

Analysis

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."[70]

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.[107] 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.[107]

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."[132]

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.[133]

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."[99] 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".[134]

See also

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