'New Order': Israeli Military Announces Name Of Beirut Strike That Killed Hezbollah Chief Nasrallah

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Saturday said that a targeted airstrike named “New Order” successfully killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut.

The long-time Hezbollah leader, who headed the Iranian-backed group for 32 years, was killed alongside other top commanders. In the images and video released by the IDF, tension is palpable in the war room among the top Israeli military brass and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

The airstrike, conducted by Israeli Air Force fighter jets, targeted Hezbollah’s Central Headquarters, reportedly located underground beneath a residential building in the Dahieh area. Alongside Nasrallah, the strike also claimed the life of Ali Karki, the Commander of Hezbollah’s Southern Front.

‘Unprovoked attacks’

The operation was launched based on precise intelligence indicating that senior Hezbollah commanders were present and actively planning attacks against Israel.

In its statement, the Israeli military described Nasrallah as a central figure in orchestrating terrorist attacks globally, asserting that he was responsible for numerous civilian casualties of various nationalities. They emphasised that Hezbollah had joined Hamas in its conflict against Israel, with ongoing “unprovoked attacks” since October 8.

The announcement follows a series of intense airstrikes on Beirut, which lasted for five hours early Saturday morning. These strikes were reported to be among the most powerful Israel has conducted during its current conflict with Hezbollah.

In the past few weeks, there has been a dizzying escalation in the nearly yearlong conflict between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah. First came two days of exploding pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah — attacks widely blamed on Israel that killed at least 39 people and maimed thousands more.

Hezbollah promised to retaliate, and on Sept. 20 the militant group launched a wave of rockets into northern Israel. Days later, Israeli strikes on Lebanon killed hundreds of people — the deadliest barrage since the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war. Both sides had already been exchanging tit-for-tat strikes since October, when Hezbollah began firing on northern Israel in solidarity with its ally Hamas, which is battling Israel in Gaza.