Israel assassinates Hassan Nasrallah; heavy blow for Hezbollah

TEL AVIV: Hassan Nasrallah, the 64-year-old Secretary-General of Lebanon's Hezbollah group, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut. In a statement, the Israel Defence Forces said, "Hassan Nasrallah will no longer be able to terrorize the world."

Nasrallah's daughter Zainab and five other high-ranking Hezbollah commanders, including high commander Alii Karake, were killed in the airstrike. Nasrallah, the co-founder of Hezbollah, had been its leader for 32 years. He was a powerful Shia leader in West Asia. Nasrallah was targeted on Friday at Hezbollah's main headquarters in the southern suburbs of Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold known as the Dahiyeh. The headquarters is underground, beneath residential buildings in the Dahiyeh.

Under the name 'New Order', Israel carried out the operation using bombs that have the capability to destroy bunkers. Hachem Safieddine Hassan Nasrallah's relative who escaped the attack and head of Hezbollah's Executive Council, is likely to become the group's new leader. However, some reports are claiming that he too was killed in the airstrike.

Hassan Nasrallah, who appeared only on television and avoided public platforms, had been under Israeli surveillance for years. Israel targeted 140 centres, including Hezbollah's headquarters and arms depots.

The attack came shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's UN address, where he lashed out at Hezbollah. Netanyahu cut short his visit and returned home.

Operation New Order

• Israeli warplanes flew to Dahiya on last Wednesday
• 80 'bunker-buster' bombs weighing one ton were dropped
• US's GBU-72, GBU-31, Israel's Spice 2000 bombs
• Tremors felt up to 30 km away
• Six buildings destroyed

Is Khamenei the next target?
Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who supports Hezbollah, has been shifted to a secret centre.

Hassan Nasrallah- Hezbollah's mastermind

• Made Hezbollah a political and armed force
• Did not come out in public in the last 20 years
• Delivered fiery speeches on television
• Delivered weapons from Iran
• Made Hezbollah stronger than the Lebanese army
• Drove Israel forces out of southern Lebanon, ending the 18-year invasion
• Iran, Hamas and Houthi connection
• 1978-1982 Part of the Amal Movement
• Co-founder of Hezbollah in 1982
• Became Hezbollah chief after Israel assassinated Abbas al-Musawi in 1992