Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has been confirmed dead by the Iran-backed organization, following an Israeli military airstrike in Beirut the previous day. His death represents a significant setback for Hezbollah, which is currently facing intensified Israeli assaults. Additionally, it poses a considerable challenge for Iran, given Nasrallah’s pivotal role in the Tehran-supported regional “Axis of Resistance.”

In a statement, Hezbollah declared its commitment to continue fighting against Israel “in support of Gaza and Palestine, and in defense of Lebanon and its steadfast and honorable people.” The circumstances surrounding Nasrallah’s death were not disclosed. The Israeli military reported that he was targeted in a “precision strike” on Friday, aimed at the group’s underground command center located beneath a residential building in Dahiyeh, a Hezbollah-dominated area in southern Beirut.

He was reported to have been killed alongside another prominent Hezbollah figure, Ali Karaki, and several other commanders.

The statement indicated that the strike occurred while senior members of Hezbollah’s leadership were operating from their headquarters and coordinating terrorist activities against Israeli citizens.

The airstrike on Dahiyeh on Friday reverberated throughout Beirut. A security source in Lebanon noted that the attack, characterized by a rapid series of powerful explosions, created a crater measuring at least 20 meters (65 feet) in depth.

This was followed by additional airstrikes on Saturday targeting Dahiyeh and other regions of Lebanon. Intense explosions illuminated the night sky, with further strikes occurring in the morning, sending plumes of smoke rising over the city.

In response, many residents have evacuated Dahiyeh, seeking refuge in downtown Beirut and other areas of the city.