Israel assassinated Hassan Nasrallah in 2024

In 2024, Israel assassinated Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in an airstrike on September 27th, marking a significant blow to the organization and the broader dynamics of the Middle East. This assassination was part of a larger Israeli campaign targeting Hezbollah's senior leadership, which escalated significantly following the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led assault on Israel. In response to this attack, Hezbollah had started engaging Israel in solidarity with the Palestinians, contributing to a prolonged period of cross-border military exchanges that involved thousands of attacks and led to significant casualties and displacement in both Lebanon and Israel.

The assassination of Nasrallah occurred after a series of escalated Israeli strikes on Hezbollah targets, which included attacks on communications devices, infrastructure, and leadership positions within the organization. Just days before, Israel had already executed several targeted killings of senior Hezbollah commanders, including Ibrahim Aqil, the commander of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan unit, on September 20; Ibrahim Kobeissi, the chief of Hezbollah’s missile unit, on September 25; and Mohammad Surour, the head of Hezbollah’s drone unit, on September 26​ (The Iran Primer).

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the elimination of Nasrallah as a critical step in achieving Israel's strategic objectives. He emphasized that Nasrallah was not just a terrorist but the “axis of the axis” in Iran's regional influence, responsible for orchestrating attacks against Israel and other nations. According to Netanyahu, eliminating Nasrallah would help stabilize the northern region of Israel, deter Hezbollah from quickly rebuilding its capabilities, and strengthen Israel's deterrence against its enemies ​(The Iran Primer).

The conflict that led up to Nasrallah's assassination was intense and widespread. Over 96,000 Israelis and approximately 500,000 Lebanese were displaced due to the violence, and there were thousands of cross-border attacks in the year leading up to this assassination​ (Wikipedia). Despite this, both Israel and Hezbollah had managed to avoid escalating into a full-scale war.

The assassination of Hassan Nasrallah represents one of the most significant actions in the long-standing Israel-Hezbollah conflict, potentially shifting the balance of power and opening a new chapter in the region's geopolitical landscape.