What's happened
On September 27, 2024, Israel launched significant airstrikes targeting Hezbollah's headquarters in Beirut, aiming to eliminate leader Hassan Nasrallah. The strikes resulted in at least six deaths and numerous injuries, escalating tensions in the region amid ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Sky News, the Israeli military targeted Hezbollah's central headquarters, claiming it was a 'precise strike' despite the civilian toll. The New York Times reported that the bombing caused 'complete decimation' of residential buildings, highlighting the humanitarian impact. Meanwhile, Axios noted that this was the largest strike in Beirut since 2006, emphasizing the strategic importance of the attack against Nasrallah. Contrastingly, reports from Iranian sources suggest Nasrallah survived, indicating potential misinformation and the chaotic nature of the conflict. The Independent and other outlets echoed concerns about the escalating violence and the implications for regional stability.
How we got here
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah intensified following Hezbollah's rocket attacks on Israel after Hamas's assault in October 2023. Israel has conducted multiple airstrikes in Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah's military infrastructure, leading to rising casualties and displacement.
More on these topics
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Hezbollah is a Shia Islamist political party and militant group based in Lebanon. Hezbollah's paramilitary wing is the Jihad Council, and its political wing is the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc party in the Lebanese parliament.
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Lebanon, officially known as the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus lies west across the Mediterranean Sea.
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Hassan Nasrallah is the third and current Secretary General of the Lebanese political and paramilitary party Hezbollah since his predecessor, Abbas al-Musawi, was assassinated by the Israel Defense Forces in February 1992.
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Benjamin Netanyahu is an Israeli politician serving as Prime Minister of Israel since 2009, and previously from 1996 to 1999. Netanyahu is also the Chairman of the Likud – National Liberal Movement.
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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Iran, also called Persia, and officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered to the northwest by Armenia and Azerbaijan, to the north by the Caspian Sea, to the northeast by Turkmenistan, to the east by Afghanistan a
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Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon. No recent population census has been conducted, but 2007 estimates ranged from slightly more than 1 million to 2.2 million as part of Greater Beirut, which makes it the third-largest city in the Levant re