Early Saturday, Hezbollah operatives discovered the bodies of Nasrallah and Ali Karaki, a top Hezbollah commander. Hezbollah confirmed Nasrallah’s death in the strikes. Israeli officials stated that the operation had been in planning since earlier in the week and timed with discussions of a cease-fire in Lebanon.
Hashem Safieddine, Nasrallah’s cousin, is a potential successor and was not at the strike site. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave the order for the strike from his hotel room in New York before his United Nations speech. Netanyahu called Nasrallah’s death “necessary” and warned, “In the coming days, we will face significant challenges.”
Also Read: Who is Hashem Safieddine? The likely successor to Hassan Nasrallah and Hezbollah’s new face
The United States, informed last-minute, is increasing its military presence in the region, signaling a warning to Tehran against aggressive responses. US officials acknowledged Nasrallah’s death as a setback for Hezbollah, which has targeted Americans for decades.
Despite the strikes, Israeli officials noted that Hezbollah still possesses military capabilities, but its leadership crisis may slow retaliation. Meanwhile, other Arab nations see the situation as an opportunity to push back against Shiite Iran.As Israel has pummeled Iranian proxies in Gaza and Lebanon since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas that killed more than 1,000 Israelis, Tehran’s reaction so far hasn’t spiraled into a broader regional war. A major missile attack in the spring did little damage. Iran seems deterred for the moment by the superior militaries of Israel and its US ally.Also Read: How Israel targeted Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in operation ‘New Order’; Israeli Air Force shares videos
“Tehran’s vaunted missile force was shown in April to be ineffective against U.S. and Israeli technology,” said Michael Morell, the former acting director of the Central Intelligence Agency, in an interview with Bloomberg. “Now Iran’s second pillar of deterrence – Hezbollah – is being destroyed in front of its eyes. What does that leave them? Where does Iran find deterrence? Perhaps they will seek it in the acquisition of nuclear weapons.”
The US continues to push for a diplomatic solution, as the conflict affects Vice President Kamala Harris’s political campaign. Netanyahu’s return to Israel was marked by heightened security.
Israel has escalated its military operations against Hezbollah by conducting airstrikes that resulted in significant losses to the group’s leadership. In a Bloomberg report, two Israeli officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, Hezbollah still possesses military capabilities and missiles, but the absence of key leaders has left the organization in crisis. Israel’s military is preparing for possible retaliation, expecting a response from Hezbollah as early as Saturday night.
The recent Israeli strikes complicate Washington’s hopes for a ceasefire in the region. A source familiar with U.S. viewpoints stated that predicting how a “headless Hezbollah” will respond is difficult, though it is clear that the group will seek vengeance. The ongoing conflict raises the risk of miscalculation as both sides aim to deliver decisive blows before any potential negotiations can take place.
Jordan, Egypt, and Gulf states like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain are reportedly pleased to see setbacks for groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. A source liaising with Arab and Western intelligence services noted that these nations aim to weaken Iranian influence in the region, shifting decision-making back to majority-Sunni states.
Netanyahu’s open defiance of U.S. calls for restraint has generated fears in some Arab capitals about Israel’s lack of accountability, even to the U.S., its chief arms supplier. An Arab official warned that if Iran reacts aggressively, the U.S. may struggle to control Israel’s response.
The rising civilian death toll in both Gaza, where Israel aims to eradicate Hamas, and Lebanon has placed Arab leaders in a precarious position, given the sympathies of their populations. The U.S. has renewed calls for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, especially as the situation continues to escalate. With a close presidential election approaching, this violence presents a growing political challenge for Vice President Kamala Harris in her race against former President Donald Trump.
As Netanyahu returned to Israel, his plane was escorted by two F-35 fighter jets, highlighting heightened security measures amid increasing tensions. The approaching one-year anniversary of the October 7 attack adds further pressure on Netanyahu, whose government faces demands from families of hostages taken by Hamas while also grappling with threats from far-right coalition partners.
Netanyahu described the elimination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah as “necessary” for Israel’s strategy to “change the balance of power in the region for years.” He emphasized that the more Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who remains in hiding in Gaza, recognizes that Hezbollah will no longer come to his aid, the greater the chances of recovering Israeli hostages.
(With inputs from Reuters, Bloomberg)
