Islamic group Hezbollah has announced the death of its secretary-general, Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike on the southern suburbs of Beirut on Friday.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that Nasrallah served as the group’s leader for 32 years.
The group confirmation was made in a statement released on Saturday.
Nasrallah was hailed as “the master of resistance, the righteous servant” who has become a “great martyr.”
The statement pledged Hezbollah’s continued commitment to its jihad against Israel, supporting Gaza and Palestine, and defending Lebanon and its people.
“The leadership of Hezbollah pledges to continue its jihad in confronting the enemy [Israel], supporting Gaza and Palestine, and defending Lebanon and its steadfast and honourable people,” the statement read.
Hezbollah’s statement did not mention who would succeed Nasrallah or how the group would respond to the assassination of its long-time leader, The Guardian reports.
A source from a Lebanese parliamentary party opposed to Hezbollah described Nasrallah’s death as an opportunity to “turn a page” in Lebanon. “Hezbollah’s rhetoric for the last two decades has been calling for a parallel state… This rhetoric has proven not to be successful at all,” the source said.
The source stressed the need for Lebanon to “grasp the momentum today, build a state” and elect a president, a position that has remained vacant for almost two years due to disagreements between Hezbollah and opposition blocks.
Israel quickly confirmed the significance of the strike through a series of statements, including an image of Prime Minister Netanyahu ordering the attack from his New York hotel room.
