Israeli Airstrike Targets Hezbollah's 'Main Command Center' in Beirut

The Israeli army claims to have targeted the central headquarters of Hezbollah in the southern suburbs of Beirut. This airstrike occurred on Friday evening, shortly after Benjamin Netanyahu's speech at the United Nations General Assembly. Thick smoke from the attack has enveloped the sky, and Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar network reported that four buildings were destroyed in the strike. The Lebanese Ministry of Health has reported initial casualty figures of two dead and 76 injured. Daniel Hagari, spokesperson for the Israeli army, stated that Hezbollah's main command center was located deep within residential areas and beneath residential buildings. Israeli media report that the heavy attack was carried out using 'bunker-buster' bombs, and the apparent main target of the attack was Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah. Hezbollah is a militia group and also a political party that controls a large part of southern Lebanon. Security sources told Reuters that the attack targeted an area where senior Hezbollah officials are usually present. This is the most severe attack on Beirut in about a year and since the onset of the Gaza war. A source close to Hezbollah stated that these extensive Israeli attacks on the southern suburbs of Beirut have destroyed six buildings. This source, due to not having permission to speak to the media, requested anonymity. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati reacted to the attack in a statement, saying this action shows that Israel 'pays no attention' to international efforts for a ceasefire. The Israeli newspaper Haaretz and several other media outlets in the country report that the target of this attack was Hassan Nasrallah, who has survived the strike. The French news agency quoted a source close to the group stating that the condition of the Hezbollah Secretary-General is 'good.' Reuters also reported from another source that Hassan Nasrallah is 'alive.' Meanwhile, an Iranian security source told Reuters that Tehran is assessing the situation of Hassan Nasrallah. The Tasnim news agency, close to the Revolutionary Guards, reported that Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safi al-Din, the number two man in Hezbollah, are in good health. A senior Israeli political source told Channel Kan on Friday night that Israel had informed the U.S. government in advance of this operation. However, a Pentagon spokesperson stated that no warning was given to the U.S. before the attack, and Lloyd Austin, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, spoke with his Israeli counterpart while the attack was underway. The Pentagon stated that Lloyd Austin spoke with the Israeli Defense Minister while returning from London and was on the plane. Meanwhile, Israeli newspapers Yedioth Ahronoth and Haaretz reported that Benjamin Netanyahu has cut short his trip to the U.S., which was supposed to continue for about two more days, and is heading to New York Airport to return to Israel. The Associated Press reported that Mr. Netanyahu was talking to accompanying reporters when he was informed of the attack and immediately stopped speaking to the reporters. The United States considers Hezbollah a terrorist organization, but the European Union has placed its military wing on the blacklist while not designating its political wing as terrorist. The political party Hezbollah also has representatives in the Lebanese parliament.