Netanyahu's covert strike: Nasrallah killed in Beirut blitz
29 September 2024 11:07
Western media report on the circumstances of the killing of Hezbollah's leader. Israel decided to launch an airstrike, in which Hasan Nasrallah was killed, fearing that Nasrallah would change his location, "The New York Times" conveyed. Benjamin Netanyahu did not inform the United States, thinking the White House would attempt to halt the operation, Channel 12 reports.
The airstrike was conducted in the southern suburbs of Beirut, where within a few minutes Israeli planes dropped 60 bombs. This information is confirmed by two senior Israeli defence establishment officials, quoted by the "NYT".
The Israeli army announced after the attack that the target of the airstrike was Hezbollah's headquarters located under residential buildings in the Dahyeh district, leading 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.
Netanyahu approved the attack and went to the UN summit
The decision regarding the attack was discussed by the Israeli government since the beginning of the week, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made the final decision just before the airstrike while he was in New York, Channel 12 reported.
The Prime Minister approved the operation and headed to the United Nations 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.
They knew Nasrallah was in the bunker
Prime Minister Netanyahu decided on the attack after consultations with Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, who urged him to authorise the strike. This decision was also supported by the heads of Mossad and Shin Bet security service, David Barnea and Ronen Bar, the station reported.
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 commence". The defence minister called the prime minister asking for approval for the attack.
Did he deceive the United States?
Channel 12 notes that while discussing the attack with his ministers, Netanyahu was simultaneously speaking with US representatives about a potential ceasefire. American and French diplomacy publicly announced a ceasefire plan on Thursday, assuming that Netanyahu initially agreed to this plan.
American officials expressed their displeasure with Israel's stance and felt deceived, the station reported.
Defence Minister Gallant called his US counterpart, Lloyd Austin, but only after the operation had commenced. "It’s difficult to consider this as prior warning", Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said.
According to Channel 12, Netanyahu did not want to notify the Americans because he feared that the USA would try to prevent the strike.
