Israel announced on Saturday that it has killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in a significant airstrike, marking the most substantial blow to the Lebanese militant group after months of fighting. Hezbollah has not yet confirmed the death.

The Israeli military said the airstrike, carried out on Friday, targeted Hezbollah’s leadership during a meeting at their headquarters in Dahiyeh, south of Beirut. Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, Israel’s Chief of Staff, stated that the operation was the culmination of long-term planning and warned that further strikes were forthcoming.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported that the strike killed six people and injured 91. Among the dead were senior Hezbollah commanders, including Ali Karki, the Commander of Hezbollah’s Southern Front. The Israeli military has also mobilized additional reserve soldiers, activating three battalions as tensions with Lebanon escalate.

Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, an Israeli military spokesperson, confirmed Nasrallah’s death, citing years of intelligence gathering. He added that Israel had dealt severe blows to Hezbollah’s capabilities, particularly its strategic weapons, though much of the group’s arsenal remains intact. Shoshani warned that Hezbollah is expected to retaliate, and Israel remains on high alert. However, he expressed hope that the strike could alter the course of the conflict.