"Hassan Nasrallah will no longer be able to terrorize the world", writes Israel's military IDF on its official X-account.
It is no secret that the Shia militia's headquarters and weapons facilities have been targets for Israel's attacks in Lebanon over the past few days. Before the reports of Nasrallah being neutralized were published, Israel's military claimed that several Hezbollah commanders had been killed, including the chief of the rocket unit.
Beach Promenade and Mountains
Now, smoke is rising from southern Beirut, where buildings are still burning after the massive bombing that allegedly took the militia leader's life. Dozens of houses are completely destroyed and rubble and fallen metal pieces fill the streets, reports news agency AFP.
Thousands of people in the capital have fled Israel's bombardment and spent the night on the capital's streets, in cars or on the beach promenade. Hundreds have also fled up to the surrounding mountains, carrying children and a few belongings, according to news agencies.
Even the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon and Tyre in the south have been attacked in the past few hours. Hezbollah has responded with at least one rocket attack against northern Israel. No fatalities or injuries have been reported from there.
Israel had issued several warnings before the attacks and ordered residents near specific buildings to immediately leave their homes.
Evacuating Hospitals
Saturday's attack on Dahieh in southern Beirut, where Hezbollah's headquarters was the target according to Israel, is the most powerful since the Lebanon War in 2006.
Lebanon's Health Department has urged hospitals in affected areas to evacuate and is simultaneously ordering hospitals in less affected areas to prepare by stopping receiving patients who are not in critical condition.
The tense situation in Lebanon has also led to Israel's military mobilizing an additional three battalions of reservists, which includes thousands of soldiers. Earlier in the week, two battalions were sent north to practice for a possible ground invasion against the Shia militia in Lebanon, writes AP.
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has condemned the attacks, which he considers a war crime. The US was not informed in advance about Israel's plans to strike Beirut, according to the White House.
