(PatriotNews.net) – Hassan Nasrallah, leader of the terrorist group Hezbollah, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Friday night. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Nasrallah was hiding in a bunker deep under civilian buildings in Beirut when the bombs struck. Hezbollah later confirmed his death.
The strike was approved by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while he was in New York for the United Nations General Assembly. He reportedly received news of the successful attack during a press conference. Though there was some initial confusion, Israel now believes Nasrallah, along with other Hezbollah leaders, died in the blast. However, Iranian media falsely claimed that Nasrallah had survived, spreading misinformation.
Nasrallah, who was 64, rose to prominence after leading Hezbollah in their fight against Israeli forces occupying southern Lebanon. He became a hero to many in the Arab world when Israeli troops withdrew in 2000. His reputation grew further after the 2006 Lebanon War, which ended in a stalemate with Israel.
But his popularity didn’t last. When Hezbollah joined the brutal Syrian civil war on the side of dictator Bashar al-Assad, Nasrallah became a hated figure, especially among Sunni Muslims. Many Lebanese, especially outside Hezbollah’s Shiite base, despised how the group allowed Iran to dominate Lebanon, turning the country into a battleground for its conflict with Israel.
It’s worth remembering that Hezbollah has a long and bloody history, including terrorist acts against the United States. The group was involved in the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Marines barracks in Beirut, killing 241 servicemen. Hezbollah’s reach extended far beyond the Middle East, too, participating in global criminal enterprises and raising money through illegal means, including during the blood diamond conflicts in Africa.
Israel has vowed to continue its efforts against Hezbollah, even as the Biden administration expressed frustration with the timing of the strike. Now, the question remains: what will happen next in this ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah?
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