Nasrallah’s Assassination

Hassan Nasrallah is the third Secretary-General of Lebanon’s Hezbollah. Born in 1960, he assumed office on February 16, 1992, following the assassination of his predecessor, Abbas al-Musawi, by an Israeli missile strike on his convoy. Nasrallah received religious education in Shia centers and seminaries in Lebanon, Iraq, and Iran. He earned the title “Leader of the Resistance” due to Hezbollah’s role in liberating southern Lebanon from Israeli occupation in 2000, after 22 years, and its subsequent confrontation with the occupation during the July 2006 war. He played a significant role in negotiating prisoner exchanges to return Lebanese and Arab captives, as well as the remains of resistance fighters held by thew Israeli occupation. His fiery speeches and strong personality garnered him widespread popularity in the Arab and Islamic worlds.

Nasrallah’s name resurfaced prominently during the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation launched by Palestinian resistance forces against Israeli settlements around Gaza on October 7, 2023. This was followed by an extended genocidal Israeli assault on Gaza Strip that resulted in tens of thousands of casualties. In response, Nasrallah announced the opening of a “front in southern Lebanon to support the Palestinian resistance,” vowing in several speeches that this front would not cease until the war on Gaza ended.

On Friday, September 27, Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a series of threats from the United Nations podium, targeting Iran and its allied resistance movements. He specifically singled out Hezbollah, claiming the group had chosen the path of war, leaving the Israeli occupation with no choice but to engage in conflict to secure the return of its people to the north.

Shortly after Netanyahu’s speech, a series of airstrikes were reported in Beirut, targeting Hezbollah’s general command headquarters. This triggered a media frenzy both locally and globally, revolving around the martyrdom of Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah. The news sent shockwaves through Lebanon, plunging the country into a state of existential anxiety as the dark cloud of the Israeli occupation’s aggression loomed over the region.

The declaration of a major war against Hezbollah had effectively begun when Netanyahu, from New York, approved the Israeli occupation’s strikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut. Ironically, this announcement was made from the world’s highest platform, the United Nations, which is meant to promote global peace—not to declare war and authorize massacres. This strongly suggests that Netanyahu had received the green light from the United States, and it is possible that secret deals were made behind closed doors in the corridors of the Security Council.

Hezbollah later confirmed the martyrdom of Hassan Nasrallah in the Israeli occupation forces’ attack, with the Israeli army officially announcing his death. The strike also claimed the lives of Ali Karaki, Hezbollah’s southern region commander, and other senior leaders of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.

According to Israeli Army Radio, F-35 jets carried out the airstrikes using bunker-busting bombs, targeting Hezbollah’s General Staff headquarters, with Nasrallah as the primary target. However, it did not end with these strikes. The Israeli occupation continued its raids, warning residents to evacuate their homes in the southern suburbs. As a result, Beirut’s streets witnessed unprecedented waves of displacement, closely resembling the mass exodus experienced by the Palestinian people in Gaza.

Overview of the Operation

The aggression that led to the assassination of Hezbollah’s Secretary-General, Hassan Nasrallah, was executed by “Unit 119” of the Israeli occupation Air Force, commonly referred to as “Bat.” The aircraft involved in this operation were F-15 jets, which targeted Hezbollah’s main headquarters, located 14 floors underground in the southern suburb of Beirut. On Saturday, the Israeli occupation army officially announced Nasrallah’s death, confirming that he was killed in the raid. Israeli occupation army spokesperson Nadav Shoshani declared on the platform “X” that “Hassan Nasrallah was killed,” while another army spokesperson, David Abraham, confirmed to AFP the “elimination” of Hezbollah’s secretary-general.

Israeli occupation media provided extensive coverage of the assassination, with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant describing it as one of the most important operations in Israel’s history. Channel 13’s military affairs correspondent, Or Heller, reported that Brigadier General Amichai Levin, commander of the Hatzerim Airbase, stated that the primary aim of the operation was to separate Lebanon from the Gaza Strip, especially since Nasrallah had connected the two fronts after October 7th, rendering them indistinguishable.

How did the Zionist entity carry out the assassination?

According to reports from Israeli websites, an operation codenamed “New Order” was conducted while senior Hezbollah officers were stationed at their headquarters, coordinating military operations against Israel. The attack commenced when Israeli Air Force planes dropped 80 MK84 “Heavy Hide” bunker-busting bombs, each weighing a ton. As reported by the “Israeli Broadcasting Authority,” these bombs are capable of penetrating fortifications as deep as 50 to 70 meters underground, targeting Hezbollah’s underground infrastructure.

Israeli intelligence infiltration was exacerbated by its involvement in Syria, where Hezbollah members were forced to communicate more openly and less securely. WhatsApp became a significant weak point as members inadvertently sharing sensitive information. This allowed Israel to collect a vast amount of intelligence, including hacking the phones of both Hezbollah members and their leaders. A key aspect of the operation involved Israel meticulously mapping out Hezbollah-controlled areas, particularly the southern suburbs of Beirut (Dahiya), dividing them into security zones of 400 square meters. In these zones, Israel monitored civilian activities in minute detail, tracking their daily routines, what they ate and drank, when they left or returned home, their clothing choices, who they communicated with, and who visited them. Israel’s surveillance technology was highly sophisticated, employing advanced cameras, drones, and other cutting-edge tools.

This large-scale intelligence project, which spanned 15 years, gathered detailed data on every resident within each apartment, including their visitors and the purpose of their interactions. Israel employed a mix of advanced technologies—such as tracking cameras, voice identification, drones, and internet hacking—alongside human intelligence provided by local and foreign agents. They also analyzed the “needs” of the residents, tracking where they bought food, parked their cars, worked, traveled, and sent their children to school. Israel even identified where individuals purchased electronic devices, received salaries, and conducted financial transactions, down to which barbershops and cafés they frequented.

Having gathered this comprehensive intelligence, Israel infiltrated the supply chains Hezbollah members relied on, equipping technological devices like televisions with surveillance systems capable of listening, tracking, and voice detection. Some devices were even rigged with explosives. Additionally, Israel established each individual’s digital footprint—capturing their voice, appearance, online activity, and apps used. This allowed Israel to plant agents and informants within Hezbollah’s ranks.

For every 400-square-meter security zone, Israel assigned specialized teams from Mossad, Shin Bet, and Unit 8200 to monitor, surveil, and execute targeted operations, including assassinations. Beyond local monitoring, Israel extended its surveillance efforts to ports and airports, hacking daily travel records. Both landline and mobile telecommunications networks were breached, further compromising Hezbollah’s security and communications network.

Israeli media reports have revealed details regarding the assassination of Hezbollah’s Secretary General, Hassan Nasrallah, in the southern suburbs of Beirut. According to the Israeli newspaper Maariv, a man approached Nasrallah, shook his hand, and smeared a substance that enabled Israel to track him. Within two minutes, Israeli forces successfully located Nasrallah and confirmed his presence at a headquarters in Beirut’s southern suburbs.

Minutes after confirming his location, Israeli aircraft launched airstrikes on the site, dropping an estimated 80 tons of bombs. This attack resulted in the deaths of Nasrallah and several senior Hezbollah leaders. Reports indicated that Nasrallah died from suffocation after seeking refuge in an unventilated room within the headquarters, where toxic gases from the bombing leaked in.

News agencies reported that Nasrallah’s body was retrieved from under the rubble. Two sources confirmed to Reuters that the body was intact, showing no visible injuries or wounds. It is believed that Nasrallah’s martyrdom was caused by suffocation, as he was in an unventilated space and suffered severe pain prior to his passing.

Sources further indicated that gases entered the room due to the bombing, leading to his suffocation. Medical and security sources confirmed that no injuries were found on Nasrallah’s body, suggesting that his death was the result of the force of the explosion. A video circulated on social media captured the moment Nasrallah’s body was recovered from the rubble.

The Condemnation of the Assassination

In Palestine, Hamas Movement condemned Nasrallah’s killing as a “cowardly, terrorist act” by the Israeli occupation. In their statement, they strongly denounced the attack as barbaric, accusing Israel of violating international norms and endangering global peace. They reaffirmed their solidarity with Hezbollah and the Islamic resistance in Lebanon, vowing continued unity against the occupation. Further, Abu Obeida, the spokesperson for the al-Qassam Brigades, expressed mourning for Hassan Nasrallah, referring to him as a martyr. In a tweet, he stated: “We grieve with all patience and fortitude for His Eminence, Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah, and his brothers,” recalling Nasrallah’s sacrifices for the freedom of Al-Quds and Al-Aqsa. Obeida praised Nasrallah’s steadfast support for the Palestinian resistance and highlighted his dedication to the cause during the “Al-Aqsa Flood.”

The Lebanese government declared a three-day mourning period starting Monday to honor Hezbollah’s Secretary General, Hassan Nasrallah, after he was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburbs. Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned the attack as an attempt to destabilize Lebanon. In Iran, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei announced a five-day mourning period, condemning the assassination as part of a U.S.-Zionist conspiracy. Iranian officials vowed a firm response while coordinating with Hezbollah and regional allies. Turkey and Russia also condemned the assassination, with Turkish President Erdoğan calling for an end to Israeli hostilities, and Russia holding Israel responsible for potential regional escalation. In Iraq, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani expressed sorrow and announced three days of mourning, condemning the occupation’s actions as an escalation.