Hezbollah's Nasrallah Killed in Israeli Strike, Sparking War
Tehran, Beirut, Iran, LebanonMonday, January 6, 2025
Advertisement
Advertisement
Last year, a shocking event occurred when Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in an Israeli airstrike. This happened while he was inside the group's war operations room. The attack took place during a series of Israeli airstrikes that destroyed several buildings in Beirut's southern suburbs. The Lebanese Health Ministry reported six deaths.
Nasrallah's assassination was a significant blow to Hezbollah, as he had led the group for over three decades. The event escalated tensions between Israel and the militants, turning months of low-level strikes into a full-blown war. This war lasted for two months, causing significant damage to southern and eastern Lebanon.
A U. S. -brokered ceasefire finally ended the conflict on November 27. Top Hezbollah security official Wafiq Safa confirmed Nasrallah's death in the war operations room but provided no further details. Safa himself had been targeted by Israeli airstrikes before the ceasefire but emerged unharmed.
Under the ceasefire agreement, Hezbollah must move its fighters, weapons, and infrastructure north of the Litani River. Israeli troops that invaded southern Lebanon must withdraw within 60 days. The Lebanese army, along with United Nations peacekeepers, will be the sole armed presence in the south.
Both Lebanon and Hezbollah have criticized ongoing Israeli strikes and overflights. They argue that Israel has only withdrawn from two out of dozens of Lebanese villages it controls. Israel, on the other hand, claims that Lebanon's military has not done enough to dismantle Hezbollah's infrastructure.
Hezbollah's current leader, Naim Kassem, warned that their fighters could strike Israel if its troops do not leave the south by the end of the month. Israel's defense minister, Israel Katz, echoed similar sentiments, stating that Israel would act if Hezbollah's infrastructure remains intact.
Safa mentioned that Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who negotiated the ceasefire, will meet with U. S. envoy Amos Hochstein soon. The future actions will depend on this meeting. Hochstein played a crucial role in the shuttle diplomacy that led to the fragile truce.