Hassan Nasrallah killed: Israel hits Hezbollah leader in Beirut airstrike.

The killing of Hassan Nasrallah, leader of the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah, in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut has raised an unprecedented wave of tensions in the Middle East. The operation, carried out by Israeli Air Force (IDF) jets, targeted Hezbollah's headquarters in the Lebanese capital, precisely hitting the building and resulting in the death of Nasrallah along with several other senior commanders of the group. The elimination of such an influential figure, who for decades has embodied armed resistance against Israel, could trigger a serious escalation of the conflict between Israel, Hezbollah and their respective regional allies.

The context of the Israeli operation

Israel and Hezbollah have been in a state of simmering conflict since 2006, when a full-scale war devastated Lebanon and northern Israel, resulting in thousands of casualties. Although direct clashes have declined in the years since, southern Lebanon has remained a Hezbollah stronghold, with a growing arsenal of missiles and weaponry supplied by Iran. Hezbollah's aggressive rhetoric and actions, combined with the strategic support it has received from Tehran, have meant that Israel has continued to view the Shiite group as a major threat to its national security.

According to Israeli sources, the attack that killed Nasrallah was part of a larger planned operation to hit key Hezbollah targets. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the mission was necessary to prevent imminent attacks on Israel, which were allegedly orchestrated by Nasrallah and his allies. Gallant stressed that despite the risk of retaliation, Israel “will never allow Hezbollah to continue to threaten the security of our country.” The Israeli government has taken extraordinary measures to protect the population, imposing restrictions on public gatherings in the north of the country and strengthening anti-missile defenses along the border with Lebanon.

Hezbollah vows revenge

Hezbollah’s reaction was immediate. The group confirmed Nasrallah’s death and issued a statement calling him a martyr of the “resistance” against the Israeli occupation. In the message, Hezbollah vowed to continue the armed struggle and announced a harsh retaliation against Israel. “The death of Hassan Nasrallah will not stop the resistance,” a spokesperson for the group said, “but it will strengthen our resolve to expel the occupiers from our land.” It is clear that Hezbollah is preparing for a military response that could include rocket attacks on Israeli targets, an intensification of operations along the border, and the possible involvement of other Iranian-backed militant groups.

Iran and the Axis of Resistance

The killing of Nasrallah has deeply shaken Tehran, Hezbollah’s main backer. The Iranian regime has strongly condemned the Israeli action, calling it a “Zionist crime” and promising an appropriate response. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards, an elite military force that has close ties to Hezbollah, has said that Iran will do everything possible to support the Lebanese movement in its revenge. “Nasrallah’s blood will not be shed in vain,” a senior Guard commander said, “Israel must prepare to pay a very high price.” The risk of direct Iranian involvement in the conflict cannot be ruled out, especially in light of pre-existing tensions between Tehran and Tel Aviv, fueled by the Iranian nuclear issue and Iranian support for armed groups in the region.

Iran, along with other actors in the so-called “Axis of Resistance” – which includes Syria, Iraq and pro-Iranian militant groups such as Hamas – could orchestrate a series of coordinated actions against Israel. Support for Hezbollah’s actions has also been highlighted by other leaders in the region, including Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, who declared three days of national mourning for Nasrallah’s death. This reflects the profound influence that Iran exerts on the Iraqi government and several militias active in the country.

Risk of regional escalation

With Nasrallah’s assassination, the Middle East is on the brink of a potential regional escalation. Israel has already stepped up its bombing of Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon, hitting key infrastructure such as weapons depots and command centers. Firefights between the two sides have escalated in recent hours, and thousands of Lebanese civilians have been forced to flee the conflict zone. The Lebanese government, while condemning the Israeli attack as a violation of the country’s sovereignty, is limited in its ability to respond due to Lebanon’s severe political and economic crisis.

The international community has expressed concern over the risk of a full-scale war. The United Nations has appealed for calm, urging both sides to avoid further provocations and engage in diplomatic dialogue to prevent a wider conflict. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has taken a hard line, declaring that Israel will not back down until it is sure it has neutralized every threat coming from Lebanon. In a speech to the United Nations, Netanyahu accused Iran of being the real mastermind behind Hezbollah and issued a direct warning to Tehran: “Israel is ready to defend itself from any aggression, whether it comes from Hezbollah or from Iran.”

The assassination of Hassan Nasrallah marks a turning point in the long and complex relationship between Israel and Hezbollah. While the killing of the Shiite leader is a major blow to the Lebanese group, the consequences could be devastating for the region.