TEL AVIV, 28 September - The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) officially confirmed that the top leader of the radical Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah movement, Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in an Israeli air strike in Beirut on 27 September.

"Hassan Nasrallah was killed yesterday [27 September] by an Israeli air strike in Beirut," the IDF said in a statement.

„Cílený útok na ústřední velitelství teroristické organizace Hizballáh, které se nacházelo v podzemí pod obytnými budovami ve čtvrti Dahíja v Bejrútu... byl proveden v době, kdy vrchní velení Hizballáhu operovalo z tohoto velitelství a provádělo teroristické aktivity proti občanům Státu Izrael,“ uvádí se v prohlášení izraelské armády. Spolu s Nasralláhem byli během tohoto úderu zabiti také „velitel jižní fronty Hizballáhu Ali Karakí a další velitelé této organizace", dodala armáda. Podle libanonských úřadů při náletu zemřelo nejméně šest lidí.

The Israeli military pointed out that "Nasrallah was responsible for the killing of many Israeli civilians and soldiers, as well as for planning and carrying out thousands of terrorist attacks during his 32 years as Hezbollah's secretary-general." "He was the central decision-maker and strategic leader of the organisation," it said.

Hezbollah, led by Nasrallah, "joined the Hamas terror organization in its war against Israel on October 8 [2023] and has since continued its constant and unprovoked attacks against Israel, dragging Lebanon and the entire region into a wider escalation," the IDF continued, adding that the IDF "will continue to act against anyone who supports and participates in terrorism against Israel and its people."

In response to the death of its leader, who it said had "joined his great, immortal, martyred comrades", Hezbollah vowed to continue its fight against Israel.

TASS / Wikimedia Commons / gnews.cz-HeK