Israeli Airstrikes Target Hezbollah Leadership, Nasrallah Reportedly Killed

New Delhi The long-standing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalated dramatically after the Israel-Hamas war, reaching a critical point in recent days. On Monday, Israel launched a series of airstrikes targeting Hezbollah positions across Lebanon, marking one of its most intense attacks on the militant group. Over 1,300 Hezbollah targets were hit, resulting in more than 500 deaths and around 1,600 injuries. Friday’s strikes, however, were particularly significant as reports suggest that Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, may have been killed.

The Israeli military confirmed it had conducted a precision strike on Hezbollah’s headquarters in Beirut, where several senior members, including Ali Karki, the Commander of Hezbollah’s Southern Front, were meeting. The Lebanese Health Ministry reported six deaths and 91 injuries from the airstrikes, which flattened six apartment buildings in the Dahiyeh district, south of Beirut. Though official confirmation is still pending, Israeli media is claiming Nasrallah was among the casualties.

Nasrallah had led Hezbollah for over three decades, making his reported death a major blow to the organization and a significant victory for Israel. Hezbollah has yet to release an official statement regarding Nasrallah’s status.

Following the strike, Israel maintained a heavy barrage of airstrikes into Saturday, while Hezbollah responded by launching dozens of rockets into northern and central Israel. Israel’s military has been mobilizing additional reserve soldiers in preparation for a possible ground invasion, with three battalions activated on Saturday morning.

As Israeli airstrikes continued to pound southern Beirut and the Bekaa Valley, Hezbollah retaliated with rocket fire, heightening tensions further. The streets of Beirut’s southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold, were left deserted as residents fled the area. Many families were forced to seek shelter in public spaces, with the overflow of displaced people crowding into city squares, beaches, and their cars. A mass exodus toward the mountains above Beirut could be seen, as civilians carried their infants and what few belongings they could manage.

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has already claimed over 720 lives in Lebanon this past week, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. Rescue operations are still underway, and the death toll is expected to rise as search teams comb through the rubble of the destroyed buildings. Friday’s attack, one of the largest explosions in the Lebanese capital in a year, has brought the region closer to the brink of all-out war.

Israel’s military stated it would continue its operations to neutralize Hezbollah’s senior leadership, marking a new phase in the conflict. With airstrikes intensifying and Hezbollah’s retaliation growing, the possibility of a broader war looms over the region.