Biden lauds strike on Nasrallah, Israel confirms Hezbollah leader's death

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.

The Israeli military said Friday it was striking in southern Beirut, in a statement released by the military.

A blast was heard in Beirut just after midnight on Saturday, a Reuters witness reported, as the Israeli military said it was striking weapons belonging to Hezbollah in the southern suburbs of the city.

This is a developing story.

President Joe Biden has directed the Pentagon to "assess and adjust as necessary US force posture" in the Middle East, the White House said on Friday after Israeli strikes in Beirut that Israel said targeted the Lebanese Hezbollah terrorist group.

"He has directed the Pentagon to assess and adjust as necessary US force posture in the region to enhance deterrence, ensure force protection, and support the full range of US objectives," the White House said in a statement.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi accused Israel of using several US "bunker buster" bombs to strike Beirut on Friday.

"Just this morning, the Israeli regime used several 5,000-pound bunker busters that had been gifted to them by the United States to hit residential areas in Beirut," he told a UN Security Council meeting on the Middle East.

Senior Hezbollah commanders were the target of Israel's strike on the group's central headquarters in Beirut's suburbs on Friday, but it was too early to say whether the attack took out Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, a senior Israeli official said on Friday.

The IDF struck Hezbollah targets near Tyre in southern Lebanon, according to an update on Friday.