The Israeli military reported on Sunday that the strike that killed Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah also resulted in the deaths of over 20 other members of the Lebanese armed group. They stated that these individuals were managing Hezbollah’s operations against Israel from an underground headquarters in Beirut, situated beneath civilian buildings.
The military’s statement identified some of those killed, including Ibrahim Hussein Jazini and Samir Tawfiq Dib, who were noted as close associates of Nasrallah and played significant roles in Hezbollah’s day-to-day operations. Hezbollah confirmed Nasrallah’s death and mentioned the loss of Ali Karake, the group’s top commander in southern Lebanon, during the same attack.
The recent escalation in military operations by Israel has shifted focus from Gaza to Lebanon, following nearly a year of low-level cross-border fire with Hezbollah. The group had begun firing on Israel in solidarity with Hamas after the latter’s unprecedented attack on October 7, which escalated the conflict in Gaza.