Israeli airstrike kills Hezbollah chief in Beirut amid rising tensions

Western media report on the circumstances of the killing of the Hezbollah leader. Israel decided to carry out an airstrike, resulting in the death of Hasan Nasrallah, fearing that Nasrallah would change his location, reported the "New York Times". Benjamin Netanyahu did not inform the United States, thinking that the White House would try to stop the operation, reports Channel 12.

The airstrike was carried out on the southern suburbs of Beirut, where Israeli planes dropped 80 bombs within a few minutes. This information is confirmed by two senior officials of the Israeli defense establishment, cited by the "NYT".

The Israeli army stated after the attack that the target of the airstrike was the Hezbollah headquarters located under residential buildings in the Dahiyah district. The strike led to the collapse of several buildings. The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that at least 11 people were killed and 108 were injured. Along with Hezbollah leader Nasrallah, several other senior Hezbollah commanders were killed, including Ali Karaki, who led the group's operations in southern Lebanon.

The decision to attack was discussed by the Israeli government from the beginning of the week, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made the final decision just before the airstrike while he was in New York, reported Channel 12.

The Prime Minister approved the operation and went to the UN headquarters to deliver a speech during the General Assembly session. After the attack on Beirut, he shortened his visit to the USA and returned to Israel immediately after the operation ended.

Prime Minister Netanyahu decided on the attack after consulting with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who urged him to agree to the strike. The channel reported that the heads of Mossad and the Shin Bet security service, David Barnea and Ronen Bar, also supported this decision.

The Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Gen. Herzi Halevi, informed Gallant on Friday afternoon that "Nasrallah is in the bunker, and the operation can begin." The Defense Minister then called the Prime Minister for permission to attack.

Channel 12 notes that while discussing the attack with his ministers, Netanyahu was simultaneously talking to US representatives about a potential ceasefire. American and French diplomacy publicly announced a plan for a pause in fighting on Thursday, believing that Netanyahu initially agreed to this plan.

American officials expressed their dissatisfaction with Israel's stance and felt deceived, reported the channel.

Defense Minister Gallant called his US counterpart, Lloyd Austin, but only after the operation had begun. "It is hard to consider this as an early warning," said Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh.

According to Channel 12, Netanyahu did not want to inform the Americans in advance because he feared that the USA would try to prevent the strike.