Israel Targets Hezbollah Leader in Beirut Airstrikes

The Israeli military has announced that it conducted strikes against Hezbollah targets throughout southern and deep Lebanon, focusing on launchers and facilities used for storing weapons. These operations aim to “degrade and dismantle” Hezbollah’s infrastructure and capabilities.

On Friday, Israel specifically targeted the group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, during strikes on Beirut, according to an Israeli official speaking to CNN. However, there has been no confirmation from Hezbollah regarding Nasrallah’s status. A senior Israeli official commented that it is “too early to say” whether the strike was successful, noting that intelligence gathering could take time, referencing the weeks it took to confirm the death of Hamas leader Mohammed Deif in Gaza earlier this summer.

The decision to target Nasrallah was described as a “very tough call,” with the official indicating that confirmation may arrive at any moment, depending on the intelligence available. A Lebanese security official, when asked about Nasrallah’s condition following the airstrikes, simply stated, “We wait.”

U.S. President Joe Biden has expressed that he is awaiting further information before commenting on the Israeli airstrikes in Beirut, emphasizing that the U.S. was not involved in the operation. “We’re still gathering information…the United States had no knowledge of or participation in the IDF action,” Biden stated to reporters in Delaware.

Reports suggest that Israel informed the United States of the operation only after it was underway, with U.S. officials indicating that they had no prior knowledge of the action. An Israeli official confirmed that the notification was sent shortly before the strike, affirming that the U.S. did not play a role in the operation.

When questioned about the justification for the strikes targeting Nasrallah, Biden refrained from offering an opinion, stating, “We have to get more detail…I don’t know enough to answer that question.” He expressed ongoing concern about the potential for escalating tensions in the region.

The UK’s Foreign Office has urged British nationals in Lebanon to leave at the earliest opportunity. In a statement, the Foreign Office advised Britons to take the next flight available and said that efforts were underway to increase capacity.