‘Israel is doing what every sovereign state would do if they had a terror organization that seeks their destruction on their border,’ said IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari
A massive airstrike by Israel Defence Forces on Hezbollah’s Beirut headquarters targeted terror chief Hassan Nasrallah early Friday evening, according to Israeli and U.S. officials.
The IDF’s working assessment was that Nasrallah was most likely killed in the attack, according to Israel’s Channel 12.
Jerusalem reportedly notified Washington about the assassination attempt only after Air Force fighter jets had taken flight.
U.S. President Joe Biden was briefed by his national security team on the strike, the White House said.
Iran’s embassy in Lebanon condemned the strike and vowed to “bring its perpetrator an appropriate punishment.”
“This reprehensible crime … represents a dangerous escalation that changes the rules of the game,” according to the mission.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei convened an emergency session of the Supreme National Security Council, the New York Times reported.
IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said warplanes conducted a “precise strike on (Hezbollah’s) central headquarters … intentionally built under residential buildings” in the heart of the Dahiyeh district of the Lebanese capital.
Hezbollah has attacked Israel nearly daily since Oct. 8, firing some 9,000 rockets, missiles and drones. The attacks have killed more than 40 people and caused widespread damage. Tens of thousands of Israeli civilians remain displaced internally due to the violence.
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