The Israel Defense Forces conducted a “precision strike” on Hezbollah's central headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon, on Friday, targeting Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
IDF spokesman Maj. Gen. Daniel Hagari said the command center was purposely built beneath a residential building in the center of Beirut's Dahiyeh “as part of Hezbollah's strategy to use the Lebanese population as human shields.”
At least two people were killed and dozens injured, the Lebanese Ministry of Health said.
Videos and images show smoke billowing over Beirut after the Israeli attack. Witnesses said they heard multiple blows.
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Smoke rises from the southern outskirts of Beirut, Lebanon, on September 27, 2024, as cross-border hostilities continue between Hezbollah and Israeli forces after Hezbollah's Al-Manar television said the attack was carried out by Israel. (Reuters)
Fox News revealed that the target of the attack was Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. A Hezbollah media official said Nasrallah was “healthy and well” and was not in the area targeted by the IDF airstrike.
Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV reported that four buildings were destroyed in multiple attacks and many people were killed and injured, indicating an escalation in the conflict between the heavily armed Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel.
Lebanese security sources said the attack targeted areas where Hezbollah leaders are usually based. It was the heaviest attack in Beirut in the nearly year-long conflict between Hezbollah and Israel.
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“Hezbollah launched its attack on Israel on October 8, after almost a year of firing rockets, missiles and suicide drones at Israeli civilians,” Hagari said. .
“After nearly a year of warning the world and telling the world that Hezbollah must be stopped, Israel has announced that every sovereign state in the world will We are doing what we would do, and we are taking the necessary actions to protect our people so that Israeli families can leave their homes safely.”
Fox News revealed that the target of the attack was Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was seen in a televised speech in January. (Reuters/Mohamed Azakir)
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Sabrina Singh, deputy Pentagon spokeswoman, said the United States was not involved in the operation and there was no prior warning.
“Minister” [Yoav] “Mr. Gallant spoke with Director Austin as the operation was already underway,” Singh said, adding, “This operation took place within the past few hours. We are still evaluating events.”
The Pentagon also declined to speculate on whether the Hezbollah leader is still alive.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu authorized the airstrike from a New York hotel on Friday. (Fox News)
A White House official said President Biden had been briefed on the operation.
The move comes shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed in a speech to the United Nations to continue Israel's offensive against Iranian-backed fighters in Lebanon, as hopes for a ceasefire that could prevent a full-scale regional war fade. The latest airstrike hit Beirut.
A car sits in a huge hole left by an Israeli airstrike on the southern outskirts of Beirut (AP)
Netanyahu will cut short his stay in the United States and depart for Israel on Friday, according to Fox News officials. This is understood to be an unusual move for an Israeli prime minister, as the Sabbath is a day of rest for Jews.
WATCH: Smoke from the strike rises over Beirut
conflict between israel and hezbollah Attacks have escalated dramatically over the last month as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) began targeting terrorist network hotspots and military warehouses, all strategically embedded within civilian villages.
Reuters contributed to this report.
