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Sun, Dec 22, 2024 | Jumada al-Aakhirah 21, 1446 | DXB
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Hezbollah confirms death of leader Hassan Nasrallah; Israel conducts 'precise strike' in Beirut
This comes after Israel military claimed on Saturday that it killed the group's chief
Photo: Reuters File
The Israeli military said it conducted a "precise strike" in Beirut's southern suburbs on Saturday, a day after a strike in the area killed Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah.
"The IDF (military) conducted a precise strike in the Dahiyeh area of Beirut. Details to follow," a statement said.
Earlier, Hezbollah confirmed the death of its leader Nasrallah. The group said in a statement it would continue its battle against Israel "in support of Gaza and Palestine, and in defence of Lebanon and its steadfast and honourable people".
This comes after Israel military claimed on Saturday that it killed the militant group's chief as strikes continue on the southern suburbs of Beirut.
"Hassan Nasrallah is dead," military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani announced on X. Military spokesman Captain David Avraham also confirmed that the Hezbollah chief had been "eliminated" following strikes Friday on the Lebanese capital.
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A source close to Lebanon's Hezbollah group said contact with Nasrallah had been lost since Friday evening.
"Contact with Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has been lost since Friday evening," said the source, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. He did not confirm whether Nasrallah had been killed.
Safieddine possible successor to Nasrallah
Hashem Safieddine is a potential successor to his slain cousin Hassan Nasrallah. He is one of Hezbollah's most prominent figures and has deep religious and family ties to Iran.
Photo: AFP file
Hassan Khalil killed in strike: Israeli military
The Israeli military said it killed a senior member of Hezbollah's intelligence in a strike on southern Beirut on Saturday, naming him as Hassan Khalil Yassin.
Warehouse near Beirut airport targeted
A Lebanese security source said an Israeli strike on Saturday targeted a warehouse near Beirut airport, Lebanon's only international passenger facility.
A Middle East Airlines commercial aircraft takes off from Beirut's international airport, amid smoke billowing above the Lebanese capital's southern suburbs, on Saturday. Photo: AFP
"An Israeli strike targeted a warehouse in the vicinity of the airport," the source said, requesting anonymity as they were not authorised to speak to the media. AFP live footage showed smoke billowing from the area near the runway after the strike.
Sirens in Israel as Yemen missile intercepted
Israel's military said sirens rang out on Saturday in central areas of the country as a missile fired from Yemen was intercepted, with AFP journalists reporting hearing explosions over Jerusalem.
A man runs as people gather their belongings during an air raid siren, at a beach in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Saturday. Photo: Reuters
"A short while ago, sirens were sounded in central Israel as a result of a missile launched from Yemen toward Israeli territory," a military statement said, later announcing that air defences intercepted it.
Yemen's Houthi rebels said in a statement that they fired a missile at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport.
Commander in south Lebanon killed: Source
A source close to Hezbollah said Saturday that the group's commander in south Lebanon, Ali Karake, was killed in an Israeli strike a day earlier along with Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah.
"The leader of Hezbollah's operations in south Lebanon Ali Karake was killed in the Israeli strike along with Nasrallah," the source said, requesting anonymity as they were not authorised to speak to the media. Karake had survived a strike targeting him earlier this week.
Hezbollah launches new rocket attack
Hezbollah, on Saturday, launched a new rocket attack on Israel after announcing the death of their leader Nasrallah.
Hamas condemns killing
Hamas on Saturday condemned the killing of Nasrallah after the Lebanon-based group confirmed his death in an Israeli strike on south Beirut a day earlier.
Flags to fly at half-mast
Lebanon announced three days of mourning for Nasrallah.
Najib Mikati. Photo: AFP file
Prime Minister Najib Mikati said the official mourning would start on Monday, with flags to fly at half-mast on public buildings, a statement said.
Public offices will also close on the day of Nasrallah's funeral, the statement added. Hezbollah has yet to announce the date.
Iran declares five days of mourning
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared five days of public mourning for Hassan Nasrallah on Saturday after the Hezbollah leader was confirmed killed in an Israeli air strike the previous day.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Photo: Reuters file
"I... offer my condolences for the martyrdom of the great Nasrallah and his martyred companions and announce five days of public mourning in Iran," Khamenei said in a statement carried by the official IRNA news agency.
Iraq announced a three-day mourning over the death of Nasrallah, according to the Prime Minister's office.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan condemned the recent attacks on Lebanon and said that his country stands with the Lebanese people and the government.
Tayyip Erdogan. Photo: Reuters file
Erdogan also offered condolences to those killed in the attacks.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas offered his condolences to Lebanon and Hezbollah after killing of Nasrallah, official Palestinian news agency said.
Hezbollah ally Syria condemned Israel's killing of the Iran-backed Lebanese group's chief Nasrallah.
IRGC deputy commander killed
Iran Revolutionary Guards' deputy commander Abbas Nilforoushan was killed in the Israeli strikes on Beirut on Friday, Iranian media reported on Saturday.
Israel on high alert
Soon after the announcement of Nasrallah's killing, a military spokesperson said Israel is on high alert for a broader conflict, as strikes continued on the Lebanese capital.
"We hope this will change Hezbollah's actions," Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani said in a media briefing after the military confirmed it had killed Nasrallah.
But he said there was still a way to go in degrading Hezbollah's capabilities.
Following the reports of Nasrallah killing, Iran said it is in constant contact with Hezbollah and regional allies to determine the "next step".
Hezbollah said that it had targeted Israeli sites including Rosh Pina in the north with missiles in response to Israeli attacks on Lebanese cities, villages and civilians.
Meanwhile, Israeli jets bombarded the southern suburbs of Beirut on Saturday, sending panicked families fleeing.
Israel said it was attacking the group's headquarters and weapons facilities in Beirut, and Israeli and US media reported Nasrallah was the target of strikes Friday night.
The blasts that rocked southern Beirut Friday were the fiercest to hit the group's stronghold since Israel and Hezbollah last went to war in 2006.
UAE airlines extend cancellation of flights
UAE-based airlines extended their flight cancellations to Beirut in response to ongoing Israel-Hezbollah conflict.
Iran Air cancels flights until further notice
Iran Air has cancelled all flights to Beirut until further notice, the airline's spokesman told local media including the Tasnim news agency on Saturday.
Over 50,000 have fled Lebanon: UN
The UN refugee chief said Saturday that more than 50,000 people had fled to Syria amid escalating Israeli air strikes on Lebanon.
"More than 50,000 Lebanese and Syrians living in Lebanon have now crossed into Syria fleeing Israeli air strikes," Filippo Grandi said on X, adding that "well over 200,000 people are displaced inside Lebanon".
(with inputs from Reuters, AFP)
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