The Israeli Air Force carried out massive targeted airstrikes in the Lebanese capital of Beirut on Friday evening, with the military saying it had struck Hezbollah’s main headquarters. An Israeli official confirmed to The Times of Israel that the strikes targeted Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was believed to be at the command center at the time.
“It’s very hard to imagine him coming out alive from a strike like that,” said the official, as multiple Hebrew media reports cited a growing Israeli assessment that Nasrallah was killed in the strike on the underground headquarters.
The attack shook the Lebanese capital and sent thick clouds of smoke over the city. There were reports of many casualties in the multiple strikes.
A source close to Hezbollah said the Israeli strikes flattened six buildings. It was the heaviest attack in Beirut in almost a year of conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. Israeli television networks reported that the attack had involved bombs totaling tens of tons of explosives.
A Lebanese security source told Reuters that Hezbollah’s top officials are usually gathered at the site that was targeted.
Underlining the extraordinary nature of the strike, IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari gave an on-camera statement minutes after the strike. Hagari said the command center was built underneath civilian buildings in the Dahiyeh suburb, a known Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut.
He did not mention whether Nasrallah was a target or was believed to be present at the site.
Footage from Beirut showed extensive destruction at the site.
Hagari said there were no changes to guidelines for Israeli civilians at this time.
Israel has eliminated much of the Hezbollah terror group’s most senior leadership in recent weeks.
Shortly after the strikes, sources close to Hezbollah told AFP and Reuters Nasrallah was alive, while Reuters cited an Iranian security official saying Tehran was checking his status.
Hours after the strike there was no sign of life from Nasrallah
As news emerged of the strike, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left a briefing with Israeli reporters after his speech at the United Nations. Netanyahu’s military secretary whispered something in his ear, before he cut the briefing short and left with his advisors.
The prime minister later announced he would cut short his visit to the United States and would depart for Israel at 3 a.m. (Israel time).
His office released a photograph that it said showed him approving the strike from his New York hotel room, evidently before he addressed the UN.
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