On 28 September 2024, the IDF announced Nasrallah's death;[7][8] his body was recovered from the rubble the next day.[9] The attack resulted in at least 33 fatalities and more than 195 injuries, including civilians.[10][3] The fatalities included:Ali Karaki, the commander of Hezbollah'sSouthern Front; other senior Hezbollah commanders; andAbbas Nilforoushan, deputy commander of theIslamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and commander of theQuds Force in Lebanon.[2][11]
Earlier in September, some of Hezbollah's most severe setbacks occurred,[12][13][14] including the 17 and 18 Septemberexplosions of its handheld communication devices and the20 September assassination ofIbrahim Aqil, commander of the eliteRedwan Force.[15][16] Between 23 September, when Israel began its airstrikes on Lebanon, and 26 September, the day before the headquarters strike, Israeli attacks had killed over 700 people,[17] injured more than 5,000,[18][17][19] and displaced hundreds of thousands of Lebanese civilians.[20] On 27 September, Israeli prime ministerBenjamin Netanyahu addressed the United Nations (UN), saying Israel was dedicated to peace, but would continue to pursue its ongoing campaign against Hezbollah.[6][21][22] The headquarters strike occurred after Netanyahu concluded his speech.[23]
The day afterHamas's7 October 2023 attacks on Israel, Hezbollah fired rockets at theShebaa Farms, claiming solidarity with the "Palestinian people".[29][30][31] This quickly escalated into regular cross-border military exchanges with Israel, impactingnorthern Israel,southern Lebanon and theGolan Heights.[32] Hezbollah condemned thekilling of civilians in Gaza,[33][34] and said it aimed to pressure Israel by forcing it to fight on two fronts.[35] Hezbollah offered an immediate ceasefire shoulda ceasefire also happen in Gaza.[36][37] From 8 October 2023 to 20 September 2024, Hezbollah launched 1,900 cross border attacks, and Israel launched 8,300.[38] The fighting killed 52 in Israel (including 27 civilians), 564 in Lebanon (including 133 civilians),[39] and displaced entire communities in Israel and Lebanon,[39] with significant damage to civilian infrastructure.[40]
In July, another senior Hezbollah military leader,Fuad Shukr, was alsoassassinated in Beirut.[41] On 10 September, the Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel was shifting its focus from Gaza to the northern border.[42]
On 17 and 18 September, thousands of handheldpagers and walkie-talkies exploded in a coordinated series of attacks.[43] The explosions killed 42 people and injured at least 3,500, including many civilians.[44][45][46] An unnamed Hezbollah official told Reuters 1,500 Hezbollah fighters were taken out of action by injuries.[47] Despite Israel initially denying involvement with the attack,[48] it was orchestrated by Israel's intelligence service (Mossad) and military.[49][50][43]
In response, Hezbollah, who described the attack as a possibledeclaration of war by Israel, launched a rocket attack on northern Israel a few days later.[51][52] On 20 September 2024, tensions further rose afterIbrahim Aqilwas killed in an Israeli strike inBeirut, along with other senior commanders from the unit.[53][54] After advising Lebanese citizens to evacuate, Israel began airstrikes on 23 September.[55]
Since 23 September 2024, when Israel began its airstrikes on Lebanon, Israeli attacks have killed over 700 people,[17] injured more than 5,000,[18][17][19] and displaced hundreds of thousands of Lebanese civilians.[20]
On 25 September, the United States and theEuropean Union released a statement calling for a 21-day ceasefire.[56] The statement was also signed by Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan,Saudi Arabia, theUnited Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, andQatar.[57] 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".[58] Netanyahu later backtracked, saying he shared the aims of the US proposal.[58] According to Lebanese Foreign MinisterAbdallah Bou Habib, Nasrallah had agreed to the temporary ceasefire days before the assassination.[59]
In the 1990s, Nasrallah was popular among Lebanese Shi'ites—and to a certain extent in the Arab and Muslim worlds[68]—but he was much disliked by the Israeli and American governments.[69] However, Hezbollah's role in ambushing an Israeli border patrol unit leading up to the2006 Lebanon War was subject to local and regional criticism.[70] During theSyrian civil war,Hezbollah fought on the side ofBashar 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.[71]
In October 1992, Israel tried to assassinate Nasrallah.[69] In May 2004, Lebanese officials said they foiled an Israeli plot to kill Nasrallah.[75][69] In the 2006 war, Israel dropped many bombs on buildings that may have housed Nasrallah.[69]
A US official toldABC News that Nasrallah and several associates were inBeirut for a brief visit during the strike.[76] According toThe 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.[77] Iranian officials toldReuters that after the pager attacks,Ali Khamenei sent Abbas Nilforoushan to Nasrallah, warning him that his life was in danger and asking him to flee to Iran; Nasrallah trusted his security and inner circle and refused.[78]
Attack
AnIAFF-15I loaded with guided bombs as it is taking-off for the airstrike on 27 September 2024
In the early evening of 27 September 2024, theIsraeli Air Force (IAF) conducted an airstrike on Hezbollah's central headquarters located in theHaret Hreik neighborhood, in theDahieh suburb of Beirut.[6] 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.[79] According toLe Parisien, citing a Lebanese security source, an Iranian mole was responsible for informing the IDF of Nasrallah's whereabouts before the strike occurred.[80][81][82]
The strike was either conducted by the119th "Bat" Squadron withF-16I Sufa jet-fighters or by the69th Squadron withF-15I Ra'ams.[83][67] Two officials said that over 80 bombs were dropped within minutes during the operation, though they did not specify the bombs' weight or type.[77] Another official stated the munition was dropped within 10 seconds and were priced at 25 millionShekels.[84]
The strike occurred shortly after Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu addressed the United Nations General Assembly to say that Israel's campaign against Hezbollah would continue.[23][6] 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.[85]
There was no immediate information on casualties in the strike. IDF spokesperson Rear AdmiralDaniel Hagari stated Hezbollah's main headquarters were the target, located beneath residential buildings. Hezbollah'sAl-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.[6] According to theNational News Agency, the raids created a belt of fire that extended from the outskirts ofBourj el-Barajneh toHaret Hreik.[86] Footage taken shortly after the explosion revealed a large crater.[87]
Aftermath
Confirmation of Nasrallah's death
On 28 September 2024, Nasrallah's death was announced by the IDF.[7][8] Hezbollah confirmed it later that day,[88][89] ending the uncertainty over his condition.[90] 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.[91]
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.[92] TheLebanese 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.[10]
Immediately following the announcement of Nasrallah's death,Naim Qassem was named as the interim leader of Hezbollah.[96] Three possible permanent successors were identified: Qassem;[97]Ibrahim Amin al-Sayyed, head of the Political Council of Hezbollah;[98] andHashem Safieddine, Hezbollah's second in command, Nasrallah's cousin and also a cleric, who reportedly survived the attack on the Hezbollah headquarters.[99]
On 29 September 2024,Al Arabiya reported that Safieddine had been named the newsecretary-general of Hezbollah, which Hezbollah denied.[100] Reuters reported that Hezbollah may have been reluctant to officially name a successor for fear he would be targeted by Israel for assassination.[78] Four days later, Safieddine was assassinated duringan Israeli airstrike in Beirut on 3 October,[101][102][103] and Hezbollah confirmed his death on 23 October after his body was found.[104] Qassem was then elected secretary-general of Hezbollah on 29 October 2024.[105]
Funerals
The bodies of Nasrallah and Safieddine were secretly buried in temporary locations before theirofficial funeral ceremonies, which were held on 23 February 2025.[106]
Reactions
Domestic
Hezbollah and allies
Hezbollah said it would continue its fight against Israel. After the announcement of Nasrallah's death, the Hezbollah-affiliatedAl-Manar TV airedQuran verses.[107] Hezbollah supporters took to the streets mourning his death and gunfire was heard.[108] On 30 September, Hezbollah's acting leader,Naim Qassem, said the group's struggle would continue, and that it was prepared to face anIsraeli ground assault.[109]
TheAmal 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.[110] Hezbollah's Christian allyMichel Aoun gave condolences to Nasrallah's family, saying: "Lebanon has lost an exceptional leader who led the national resistance."[111]
Lebanese government
Lebanese caretaker Prime MinisterNajib Mikati denounced the attack, calling Lebanese civilians to "stand united in the face of aggression".[112] He declared three days of mourning in Lebanon,[113] beginning on 30 September, with flags to fly athalf-staff on public buildings.[114]
In Beirut,Lebanese army tanks were deployed near the Burj Al Ghazal bridge to prevent clashes between Shia and Christian neighborhoods.[115] 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.[115]
Iran
An Iranian official paying respects to Nasrallah following his death
Following the strike on 27 September,The New York Times reported that Supreme LeaderAli Khamenei convened an emergency meeting of theSupreme National Security Council at his residence.[116]Reuters reported that Khamenei had moved to a secure location in Iran under increased security measures[117] and that authorities were investigating senior security officials and Revolutionary Guards officers, with some arrested as suspected Mossad spies.[78]
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.[118] PresidentMasoud 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.[119] Some in Iran gathered in central locations to perform Shia mourning rituals, waving Hezbollah flags and chanting ballads.[115]
On 29 September, theNew York Times reported that Iranian officials debated how to respond to Nasrallah's death. At a high-level meeting, conservative members, includingSaeed 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.[120]
IDF Chief of StaffHerzi 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."[112]
After the attack, Israel reportedly hackedBeirut 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.[122]
Germany: Foreign MinisterAnnalena Baerbock said the attack was "highly dangerous" and risked destabilising Lebanon, adding this was "in no way in Israel's security interest".[126]
Russia: TheForeign Ministry condemned Israel's assassination, warning it could escalate violence in the Middle East, and called for an immediate halt to hostilities.[132] Foreign MinisterSergey Lavrov said the country was concerned about the Israeli airstrike which killed Nasrallah.[133]
South Africa: TheForeign Ministry condemned the "extrajudicial killings" and stated its solidarity with the Lebanese authorities.[134]
Turkey: Foreign MinisterHakan Fidan said Nasrallah was an important figure for Lebanon and the Middle East and will be hard to replace.[139]
United States: PresidentJoe Biden said Nasrallah's death "was a measure of justice for his many victims", including thousands of civilians in the United States, Israel, and Lebanon. He reiterated the US' support for Israel against "Iranian-supported terrorist groups." Biden said the defense secretary would bolster US military forces in the Middle East to prevent a regional war, while maintaining diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.[140][141] Vice PresidentKamala Harris expressed support for Israel's attack on Hezbollah headquarters.[142][143]
Venezuela: PresidentNicolás Maduro condemned the killing and called on the "Arab people to raise their voice."[144]
Kata'ib Hezbollah blamed "Zionist-American aggression" for Nasrallah's death whileAshab al Kahf warned that any participants or backers of the attack were part of its "upcoming target bank."[147]
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."[74]
Writing inThe New York Times,Farnaz Fassihi said the assassination of Nasrallah eliminated a key figure of Supreme LeaderAli Khamenei's inner circle, as Iran had spent forty years developing Hezbollah as a frontline defense against Israel.[120] Fassihi said that Iran had, over time, activated abroader network of militant groups, including Hezbollah, to openmultiple fronts against Israel, aiming to create regional chaos and pressure both the U.S. and Israel into negotiating a ceasefire with Hamas.[120]
Writing forThe 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."[153]
InThe Guardian,Peter Beaumont said the killing had raised questions about the effectiveness of Israel’s "campaign of assassinations", noting that the 1992 killing ofAbbas 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.[154]
According toThe 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."[113] InThe 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".[155] Reuters observed that the assassination had caused a loss of trust within Iran's and Hezbollah's establishments as well as between them.[78]
^Byman, Daniel (24 September 2024)."The Beeper Balance Sheet".Foreign Policy.Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved24 September 2024.
^Frenkel, Sheera; Bergman, Ronen;Saad, Hwaida (18 September 2024)."How Israel Built a Modern-Day Trojan Horse: Exploding Pagers".The New York Times.Archived from the original on 20 September 2024. Retrieved19 September 2024.Even before Mr. Nasrallah decided to expand pager usage, Israel had put into motion a plan to establish a shell company that would pose as an international pager producer. By all appearances, B.A.C. Consulting was a Hungary-based company that was under contract to produce the devices on behalf of a Taiwanese company, Gold Apollo. In fact, it was part of an Israeli front, according to three intelligence officers briefed on the operation. They said at least two other shell companies were created as well to mask the real identities of the people creating the pagers: Israeli intelligence officers.
^Barnard, Anne (20 May 2013)."Hezbollah's Role in Syria War Shakes the Lebanese".The New York Times.Archived from the original on 2 May 2019. Retrieved20 June 2013.Hezbollah, stronger than the Lebanese Army, has the power to drag the country into war without a government decision, as in 2006, when it set off the war by capturing two Israeli soldiers
^Norton, Augustus R. (2018).Hezbollah: a short history. Princeton studies in Muslim politics (3rd ed.). Princeton Oxford: Princeton University Press. p. 69.ISBN978-0-691-18088-5.
Israeli Air Force
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Security camera footage from the site of the attack
China: TheForeign Ministry said that Israel is violating Lebanese sovereignty after the attacks.[123]
Cuba: PresidentMiguel Díaz-Canel condemned the "cowardly selective murder" of Nasrallah.[124]
France: TheMinistry for Europe and Foreign Affairs stated they were contacting the Lebanese authority to avoid further instability after the attack.[125]
Germany: Foreign MinisterAnnalena Baerbock said the attack was "highly dangerous" and risked destabilising Lebanon, adding this was "in no way in Israel's security interest".[126]
Iraq: Prime MinisterMohammed Shia' Al Sudani and clericMuqtada al-Sadr declared three days of mourning across the country.[127] Demonstrations in support of Nasrallah broke out inBasra andKarbala Governorates and inBaghdad, blocking roads to theGreen Zone. TheGrand Ayatollah of IraqAli al-Sistani condemned the killing, saying Nasrallah was important for Palestinian resistance and thefight against ISIS.[128]
Pakistan: InKarachi, people went to the streets to protest against the assassination of Nasrallah, culminating in clashes with the police.[129]
Palestine:Mahmoud Abbas,president of thePalestinian Authority offered his condolences after the attack. TheExecutive Committee of thePalestine Liberation Organization offered condolences for the "martyrdom ofSayyed Hassan Nasrallah and the civilian victims killed by the Israeli occupation's onslaught".[130] Hamas issued a statement mourning Nasrallah.[131]
Russia: TheForeign Ministry condemned Israel's assassination, warning it could escalate violence in the Middle East, and called for an immediate halt to hostilities.[132] Foreign MinisterSergey Lavrov said the country was concerned about the Israeli airstrike which killed Nasrallah.[133]
South Africa: TheForeign Ministry condemned the "extrajudicial killings" and stated its solidarity with the Lebanese authorities.[134]
Syria: TheForeign Ministry condemned the attack.[135] TheSyrian Social Nationalist Party released a statement mourning Nasrallah.[136] Inrebel-controlledIdlib, locals celebrated Nasrallah's death for the suffering and deaths caused during theSyrian civil war.[74][137][138]
Turkey: Foreign MinisterHakan Fidan said Nasrallah was an important figure for Lebanon and the Middle East and will be hard to replace.[139]
United States: PresidentJoe Biden said Nasrallah's death "was a measure of justice for his many victims", including thousands of civilians in the United States, Israel, and Lebanon. He reiterated the US' support for Israel against "Iranian-supported terrorist groups." Biden said the defense secretary would bolster US military forces in the Middle East to prevent a regional war, while maintaining diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.[140][141] Vice PresidentKamala Harris expressed support for Israel's attack on Hezbollah headquarters.[142][143]
Venezuela: PresidentNicolás Maduro condemned the killing and called on the "Arab people to raise their voice."[144]
