The IDF has opened a limited ground invasion of Lebanon, which is not meant to hold territory for long. The US State Dept. confirms the operation. Senior IDF sources say they have been surprised at Hezbollah’s weak retaliatory measures since the IDF’s onslaught began 2 weeks ago and particularly since Hezbollah Chief Hassan Nasrallah was killed in a precision strike on Friday.
The purpose of these missions is to secure critical information and establish strategic footholds in preparation for a broader military action against Hezbollah’s infrastructure.
On Saturday Hezbollah confirmed the death of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in an Israeli bombing the previous night. That was on friday. Its huge, huge news.
The strike, which targeted Hezbollah’s underground headquarters, marked a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which began nearly a year ago when Hezbollah launched attacks on northern Israel in support of Hamas. Nasrallah, a key figure among anti-Israel forces, had served as both a religious and political leader for Hezbollah, and his assassination dealt a severe blow to the group. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu explained that Nasrallah was targeted due to his ability to restore Hezbollah’s strength, although he emphasized that the mission was not yet complete. Despite Nasrallah’s death, both Hezbollah and Israel vowed to continue the fight, with Israeli airstrikes throughout the day causing significant casualties and displacement in Lebanon.
President Biden acknowledged Nasrallah’s assassination as justice for his victims but called for a diplomatic solution to bring stability to the region. Lebanon’s health ministry reported at least 33 deaths and nearly 200 injuries on Saturday, with the toll expected to rise as rescue efforts continued. Israeli strikes, involving heavy bombs, have displaced around 500,000 people, with many in Beirut left in shock and mourning.
Hashem Safieddine, a key figure within Hezbollah, has been chosen by the group’s Shura Council to succeed Hassan Nasrallah as Secretary-General following Nasrallah’s assassination. Safieddine is considered to be more hardline than Nasrallah. Since 1995, he has been a member of Hezbollah’s top leadership body, the Majlis al-Shura, and serves as the head of the Executive Council, overseeing the group’s internal activities, including social and political operations. Safieddine’s close ties to Iran, particularly with the Revolutionary Guards, have played a critical role in Hezbollah’s operations across Lebanon, Syria, and the broader Middle East.
The Israeli military confirmed the killing of another senior Hezbollah figure, Hassan Khalil Yassin, as part of the ongoing operations.
The IDF also reported 20 other Hezbollah terrorists to be killed, with four high-ranking commanders, including Ibrahim Hossein Jazini, Nasrallah’s security chief, and his adviser Samir Toufik Dib. The strike targeted Hezbollah’s headquarters, which were embedded beneath civilian buildings and near UN schools. The IDF emphasized the strategic importance of Jazini and Dib, who were close to Nasrallah and had key roles in Hezbollah’s operations.
Celebrations erupted in parts of the Middle East following the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, particularly in rebel-held areas of Syria and among some Iranians. In Idlib, Syria, civilians celebrated by waving flags and distributing sweets, expressing joy over the death of a figure who had long supported the Assad regime in the syrian civil war. Similar displays occurred in Iran, where some women toasted the news and pro-Shah Iranians in London praised Israel for the strike. Arab journalists and influencers also voiced support for the killing, calling it “the end of an era” and expressing hopes for increased regional stability. The Israeli Defense Forces confirmed Nasrallah’s death, along with other senior Hezbollah commanders, in a recent airstrike on his bunker in Beirut.
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