Israel Strikes Lebanon, Pressuring Hezbollah Following Leader’s Death – Reuters

By Emily Rose and Maya Gebeily

JERUSALEM/BEIRUT – On Sunday, Israel conducted strikes on multiple targets in Lebanon, intensifying its campaign against the Iran-backed group Hezbollah following the significant loss of its leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.

The Israeli military reported that its air force had targeted numerous Hezbollah installations in Lebanon, including rocket launchers aimed at Israeli territory, weapons storage facilities, and various other components of Hezbollah’s operations.

Additionally, the Israeli navy intercepted a projectile approaching from the Red Sea area and reported that eight projectiles launched from Lebanon had fallen in unpopulated regions nearby.

Nasrallah was killed in a major Israeli airstrike on Friday that targeted the group’s headquarters in the southern suburbs of Beirut. His death represents a considerable setback for both Hezbollah and Iran, eliminating a key figure who played a crucial role in strengthening Hezbollah’s position as a central component of Iran’s network of allied groups across the Arab world.

Israel confirmed the killing on Saturday, and Hezbollah later acknowledged it. Following this, Hezbollah declared its intent to continue its fight against Israel, launching additional rocket fire on Sunday morning.

This escalation comes on the heels of a tumultuous period for Hezbollah, which recently suffered an attack that reportedly destroyed numerous communication devices utilized by its members. While Israel is widely believed to have been behind that incident, it has not explicitly confirmed or denied the action.

The increasing tension raises concerns that the conflict could escalate further, potentially involving Iran and the United States as well.

Hezbollah and Israel have been engaged in parallel hostilities alongside Israel’s ongoing military effort in Gaza against Hamas, which began following Hamas’s assault on Israel on October 7.

Lebanon’s health ministry reported that 33 individuals were killed in Israeli strikes on Saturday, raising the death toll to more than 1,670 since hostilities erupted on October 8, including 104 children.

In Beirut, displaced families sought refuge at Zaitunay Bay, a popular waterfront area typically frequented by diners, where they set up makeshift camps amidst the devastation.

"We will not be defeated, regardless of the bombardments or displacements. This is our homeland, and we intend to stay," declared Francoise Azori, a resident of Beirut jogging through the area.

The United Nations’ World Food Programme announced that it had initiated an emergency operation to provide food assistance to up to 1 million individuals impacted by the ongoing conflict in Lebanon.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that Nasrallah’s death was a pivotal move towards altering the regional balance of power for years to come. "Nasrallah was not a terrorist; he embodied terrorism," Netanyahu remarked, anticipating difficult times ahead.

Alongside Nasrallah, Israel claimed responsibility for the deaths of senior Hezbollah official Ali Karaki and other commanders.

U.S. President Joe Biden characterized Nasrallah’s death as a form of justice for his numerous victims, including many Americans, Israelis, and Lebanese. He reaffirmed unwavering U.S. support for Israel’s right to defend itself. However, when questioned about the likelihood of an Israeli ground invasion into Lebanon, Biden expressed a desire for a ceasefire.

Reports indicate that following Nasrallah’s assassination, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was relocated to a secure site in Iran, where he threatened retaliation, assuring that others would continue the fight against Israel in Nasrallah’s stead.

In response, Iran called for a United Nations Security Council meeting to address Israel’s actions in Lebanon and warned against any aggression toward its diplomatic missions.

Furthermore, a senior member of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, deputy commander Abbas Nilforoushan, was also reported killed in the strikes on Friday.

Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated that Israel’s military efforts were not directed against the Lebanese people. He conducted discussions late Saturday regarding the potential expansion of military operations along the northern front. Meanwhile, Hezbollah has asserted that it will only ceasefire when Israel halts its military actions in Gaza.