Israel mentioned Sunday it killed one other senior Hezbollah official in an air strike on the Lebanese capital after dealing the Iran-backed group a seismic blow by assassinating its chief, Hassan Nasrallah.
Israel introduced the killing of Nabil Qaouq, a member of Hezbollah’s central council in a strike Saturday, including that its air pressure continued to hit “dozens” extra targets round Lebanon on Sunday.
Israeli strikes have in latest months decimated Hezbollah’s senior command construction, with Nasrallah’s right-hand man Fuad Shukr, head of the elite Radwan Power Ibrahim Aqil and others among the many lifeless.
The previous week’s waves of strikes on Hezbollah strongholds round Lebanon have additionally plunged the tiny Mediterranean nation and the broader area into worry of much more violence to come back.
Hezbollah launched low-intensity cross-border strikes on Israeli troops after its Palestinian ally Hamas staged its unprecedented assault on Israel on October 7, sparking the battle within the Gaza Strip.
Practically a yr later, Israel introduced a shift in its focus to battling Hezbollah on its northern entrance.
Hezbollah confirmed Nasrallah’s killing in an enormous strike on Friday on the group’s fundamental bastion in south Beirut.
“All of us began crying,” Maha Karit informed AFP in Beirut after Nasrallah’s demise.
With Lebanon already mired in political and financial disaster, the escalation has pushed it to the brink, because the bombardment has killed over 700 folks in per week, in accordance with well being ministry figures.
The Israeli navy mentioned on Sunday its air pressure had struck “dozens of Hezbollah terror targets” after finishing up “tons of” of strikes on Friday and Saturday.
It then introduced that Qaouq was “struck and eradicated” in a strike on south Beirut on Saturday.
Hezbollah has but to formally announce Qaouq’s demise however a supply near the group mentioned he had been killed.
Lebanon’s Nationwide Information Company reported a string of raids in and across the metropolis of Baalbek within the east.
No less than six folks have been killed in a strike on a home within the northeastern Hermel area, the company reported, whereas an emergency response group affiliated with Hezbollah ally the Amal motion mentioned 5 of its rescuers have been killed within the south.
Hezbollah mentioned its fighters launched “a volley of Fadi-1” rockets at an Israeli base within the Golan Heights early Sunday. The Israeli navy reported “roughly eight” launches from Lebanon that fell in unpopulated areas close to the Israeli-annexed territory.
– Cult standing –
Nasrallah was the face of Hezbollah, having fun with cult standing amongst his supporters.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned Israel had “settled the rating” with Nasrallah’s killing, whereas Israeli navy spokesman Daniel Hagari mentioned the world was “a safer place” with out him.
US President Joe Biden — whose authorities is Israel’s prime arms provider — mentioned it was a “measure of justice for his many victims”.
Analysts informed AFP that Nasrallah’s demise leaves bruised Hezbollah underneath strain to reply.
“Both we see an unprecedented response by Hezbollah… or that is complete defeat,” mentioned Heiko Wimmen of the Worldwide Disaster Group assume tank.
The assassination additionally showcased Israel’s navy and intelligence prowess.
“It demonstrates… simply how deeply Israel has penetrated Hezbollah,” mentioned James Dorsey of Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam College of Worldwide Research.
Hezbollah backer Iran has condemned Nasrallah’s assassination, with First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref threatening it might result in Israel’s “destruction”.
On Sunday, Iran’s International Minister Abbas Araghchi additionally vowed that the killing of its Revolutionary Guards basic Abbas Nilforoushan alongside Nasrallah would “not go unanswered”.
Hamas condemned Nasrallah’s killing as a “cowardly terrorist act”, whereas Lebanon, Iraq, Iran and Syria all declared public mourning.
Allied armed teams throughout the area like Yemen’s Huthi rebels, already drawn into the Gaza battle, have vowed motion in opposition to Israel.
An “unmanned aerial goal” approaching Israel over the Purple Sea — the place the Iran-backed Huthis have launched assaults earlier than — was intercepted on Sunday, the Israeli navy mentioned. There was no quick declare of accountability.
– ‘Breaking level’ –
A lot of the deaths in Lebanon got here on Monday, the deadliest day of violence for the reason that nation’s 1975-1990 civil battle.
UN refugee chief Filippo Grandi mentioned “nicely over 200,000 persons are displaced inside Lebanon” and greater than 50,000 have fled to neighbouring Syria.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati nevertheless warned the determine might be a lot greater, saying as much as a million folks could have been compelled from their properties.
It was probably the “largest displacement motion” within the nation’s historical past, he mentioned.
The World Meals Programme mentioned it had launched an emergency operation to supply meals and help for “as much as a million folks” affected by the escalation.
“Lebanon is at a breaking level and can’t endure one other battle,” mentioned WFP regional director Corinne Fleischer.
Diplomats have mentioned efforts to finish the battle in Gaza have been key to halting the combating in Lebanon and bringing the area again from the brink.
In Gaza, AFP correspondents reported a number of air strikes throughout the night time and shelling from a navy boat.
Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal mentioned an Israeli strike killed not less than three Palestinians in a home in Gaza Metropolis, with three extra killed in two separate strikes within the territory’s north and centre.
Hamas’s October 7 assault on Israel resulted within the deaths of 1,205 folks, largely civilians, in accordance with an AFP tally primarily based on Israeli official figures that embody hostages killed in captivity.
Of the 251 hostages seized by militants, 97 are nonetheless held in Gaza, together with 33 the Israeli navy says are lifeless.
Israel’s retaliatory navy offensive has killed not less than 41,595 folks in Gaza, most of them civilians, in accordance with figures offered by the Hamas-run territory’s well being ministry. The UN has described the figures as dependable.
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