Hezbollah Confirms Hassan Nasrallah's Death in Israeli Airstrikes

By Chetna Gill

Cover Image Attribute: Screengrab of Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah/ Source: CNN

Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah for over 30 years, was killed in an Israeli airstrike, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The 64-year-old died in a major strike on the group's "central headquarters" in Beirut, Lebanon. Hezbollah confirmed his death, stating their leader had "joined his fellow martyrs," and two U.S. officials also verified his death to US media houses.
The strike also killed Ali Karki, Hezbollah's southern front commander, along with other leaders. The IDF reported that the leaders were in a command facility near a residential building. An Israeli military official stated that real-time intelligence on a critical opportunity enabled the strike. This airstrike was part of a broader operation targeting Hezbollah leaders, who had been launching rockets and drones across the Lebanon-Israel border amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Nasrallah's personal journey is one of resilience and determination. Born in Beirut in 1960, he was the ninth of ten children in a poor Shia family. His father, a vegetable vendor, struggled to make ends meet, and the family lived in the impoverished northern suburb of Sharshabouk. Beirut, once known as the 'Paris of the Middle East,' was plunged into chaos when Lebanon's civil war erupted in 1975, forcing Nasrallah's family to flee the city.
During the war, Nasrallah's family fled the city. He joined the Amal Movement, a Shia militia that later transformed into Hezbollah, meaning "Party of God." Both Israeli and U.S. officials state that Hezbollah has been backed by Iran from the beginning, with Iran providing military training and financial support, amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars annually.
Nasrallah spent some time studying in Iran before returning to Hezbollah, eventually becoming its secretary-general after Israel assassinated his predecessor, Abbas al-Musawi, in a 1992 helicopter strike. He held the title of "sayyid," an honorific indicating his lineage as a Shiite cleric, tracing back to the Prophet Muhammad, according to the AFP.
Under Nasrallah's dynamic and forceful leadership, Hezbollah intensified its threats to eliminate Israel and remove the U.S. presence in Lebanon. The U.S. designated Hezbollah as a terrorist organization in October 1997, five years after Nasrallah assumed leadership.
His supporters viewed Nasrallah as a charismatic strategist who strengthened ties with Iran and militant groups like Hamas, according to AFP. However, Western nations and some Gulf Arab states saw him as an extremist.
Hezbollah's military arm was responsible for major attacks, including the bombings of U.S. installations—the U.S. Embassy building in April 1983, the U.S. Marine barracks in October 1983, and the U.S. Embassy annex in September 1984—killing hundreds of people and injuring hundreds more. The group has also been linked to hijackings, kidnappings, suicide bombings, and global espionage.
Nasrallah's leadership was instrumental in the resistance that forced Israeli troops to withdraw from South Lebanon in 2000 after an 18-year occupation. He also led Hezbollah during its 34-day war with Israel in 2006, a testament to his unwavering commitment to the cause.
In 2011, Nasrallah directed Hezbollah's involvement in Syria's civil war, supporting President Bashar Assad's forces. Despite much of the Arab world isolating Assad, Hezbollah, along with Russia and Iran, she played a crucial role in keeping him in power and helping him regain lost territory.
Under Hassan Nasrallah's leadership, Hezbollah expanded its political influence. Following the end of Lebanon's civil war in 1990, Nasrallah transformed the group into what AFP describes as a "state within a state." He established a comprehensive social welfare network offering schools, clinics, and housing in Lebanon's impoverished, predominantly Shiite areas. Over time, Hezbollah's influence spread across the country, eventually securing seats in Lebanon's parliament.
Nasrallah's death leaves a leadership void in what is considered the most potent paramilitary force in the Middle East.
As Hezbollah's prominence grew, Nasrallah made fewer public appearances, fearing assassination. Instead, he delivered speeches via video from undisclosed locations, which were broadcast on Hezbollah's radio and satellite TV, cementing his status as an icon in Lebanon and across the Arab world, according to AFP.
In his last televised address on September 19, Nasrallah blamed Israel for an explosive device attack that killed dozens of Hezbollah soldiers and injured thousands more. He ended by vowing that "retribution will come."
Nasrallah's personal life was not untouched by the conflict he was embroiled in. He is survived by his wife, Fatima Yassin, three sons—Jawad, Mohammed-Mahdi, and Mohammed Ali—and several grandchildren. His eldest son, Hadi, was killed in 1997 while fighting Israeli forces, and his daughter Zeinab was reportedly killed in the Beirut airstrike on Friday, a tragic reminder of the personal sacrifices made in the pursuit of his beliefs.
With reporting by AFP

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