IDF strikes Beirut, Nasrallah's status unknown, IAF patrolling Lebanese capitol

The IDF has struck Hezbollah targets in the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon, according to Israeli media on Saturday.

IDF follow-up strikes on the Beirut suburb of Dahiya have eliminated a Hezbollah missile unit commander and his deputy and may have eliminated an IRGC commander, according to Israeli media early Saturday morning.

The IDF struck several targets across the country only hours after a strike on Beirut, which targeted Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

The Israeli military that the commander of Hezbollah's missile unit, Muhammad Ali Ismail, and his deputy, Hossein Ahmed Ismail, had been killed in southern Lebanon.

Ali Ismail was responsible for many attacks against Israel, including the launch of missiles toward the center of the country on September 25, according to Walla.

IDF strikes also targeted Hezbollah weapons depots and manufacturing sites in Beirut. The IDF had forewarned residents of these districts that they would need to evacuate immediately, only a few hours before.

Hezbollah denied that the targeted buildings were used as weapons depots.

Smoke rises from Beirut southern suburbs, Lebanon September 20, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

The IDF also launched a series of strikes on the area near the southern Lebanese city of Tyre after rockets had been launched at Safed.

IRGC commander eliminated

IRGC commander Abbas Nilforoushan may have been eliminated in the IDF strike on the Beirut suburb, Dahiya, according to Iranian media.

Nilforoushan was a key player in Iranian actions in the region, advising Hezbollah on military and diplomatic affairs, according to Khabar Online.

He is believed to have played a major role in crushing protests against the Iranian regime and fought with the Assad regime during the Syrian civil war.

IRGC commander Abbas Nilforoushan may have been eliminated in the IDF strike on the Beirut suburb, Dahiya, according to Iranian media.

The IDF was targeting Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was suspected to be hiding in civilian buildings in the area.

Nilforoushan was a key player in Iranian actions in the region, advising Hezbollah on military and diplomatic affairs, according to Khabar Online.

Zainab Nasrallah, the daughter of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, was reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting Hezbollah strongholds in Beirut’s southern suburbs on Friday.

Channel 12 in Israel reported her death, though there has been no official confirmation from Hezbollah or Lebanese authorities.

Zainab, known for her outspoken loyalty to Hezbollah and her family's sacrifices, had previously spoken publicly about the death of her brother, Hadi, who was killed by Israeli forces in 1997.

In a 2022 interview on Al-Manar TV, she described her family’s reaction: “When my brother Hadi was ‘martyred,’ my parents did not shed a single tear,” reflecting the family's pride in their path.

She noted that her mother viewed Hadi’s death as a "shortcut" to the afterlife, and the family chose to honor his sacrifice rather than mourn traditionally.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and the neighbourhood of Dahiyeh, Beirut. Illustrative. (credit: REUTERS)

A culture of martyrdom

"We are embarrassed that we have made such a small sacrifice compared to other families of martyrs," she stated, highlighting the family's conviction and commitment to Hezbollah's ideology.

Her statements underscored the public narrative that martyrdom is seen as a noble cause within her family and among Hezbollah supporters.

If confirmed, Zainab’s death could have significant symbolic implications for Hezbollah, potentially influencing the group's response to the escalating conflict with Israel.

The situation remains fluid, with more details expected as the investigation continues.

Israel hopes it will not have to proceed with a ground invasion against Hezbollah in Lebanon, a senior Israeli official said on Friday after Israel attacked the group's central headquarters in Beirut's southern suburbs.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters it was too early to say whether the attack hit Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.

Israeli officials have speculated that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in the targeted IDF attack on the terror group’s central headquarters in Beirut on Friday.

“Hard to believe he [Nasrallah] got out of it alive,” an Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post, adding that Nasrallah had been one of the targets of the strike.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu authorized the strike before addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday morning.

Increasing in strikes

The attack came as the IDF has ratcheted up the level of its strikes on the Iranian proxy group that has long launched attacks against the Jewish state.

For the last year, the IDF and Hezbollah have engaged in a constrained cross-border war that has run concurrently with the Gaza war.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, August 5, 2024 (credit: SHUTTERSTOCK)

Israel’s strike to eliminate Nasrallah, an attack it has taken credit for, comes some two months after Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran. Israel has not claimed credit for that attack but is widely believed to have carried it out.

Airstrikes targeting Lebanon must be brought to an end immediately, France's ambassador to the United Nations said on Friday after Lebanese Hezbollah commanders were targeted in southern Beirut.

"The large-scale strikes which took place today in the south suburbs of Beirut brought devastation and claimed many casualties. This must be brought to an end immediately," Nicolas de Riviere told a UN Security Council meeting.

Following the strike on Beirut on Friday, IDF Spokesperson R.-Adm. Daniel Hagari announced that they were still investigating the status of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and would update as soon as possible.

"We used a highly precise strike to target Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was hiding in civilian buildings in the Dahiya neighborhood of Beirut."

He also announced that the IDF would soon strike Hezbollah infrastructure built under civilian buildings in Dahiya.

When asked about whether others were killed, he said, "Once we've finished investigating, we will update you on the details."

Smoke rises behind buildings in Beirut, Lebanon September 27, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/EMILIE MADI)

The IDF would be targeting storage areas for coastal missile array that had been sent from Iran. This was due to the experience of the Second Lebanon War, in which anti-ship missiles killed several sailors.

Hezbollah's use of civilian infrastructure

During the presentation, he illustrated weapons storage locations under the civilian apartments in Beirut.

Hagari also announced that the IAF had begun restricting access to Beirut airport to block the importation of weapons.

"IAF jets are now patrolling the area of ​​Beirut's airport. Until now, the State of Lebanon acted responsibly and did not allow the transfer of weapons through the civilian airport. We announce - we will not allow weapons to land at the airport in Beirut."

"We will not allow militarized planes to use a civilian airport. This is a civilian airport for civilian use, and it must be protected as such."

"I will update you throughout the night and tomorrow whenever necessary," he said before signing off.

This is a developing story.

Hezbollah's head Hassan Nasrallah was unreachable following Israel's strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs on Friday evening, a source close to the Lebanese armed group told Reuters.

Hours after the strikes, Hezbollah had not made a statement on his fate. A source close to Hezbollah told Reuters Nasrallah was alive and Iran's Tasnim news agency also reported he was safe. A senior Iranian security official told Reuters Tehran was checking his status.

At least six people were killed and 91 wounded in Israel's strike on Beirut's southern suburb on Friday, the Lebanese health ministry said, adding that the toll was not final.