Israel attempts assassination of Hezbollah leader

BEIRUT, Lebanon – Far from agreeing to a U.S.-sponsored ceasefire with Hezbollah, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instead signed off on an attempt to assassinate the leader of Hezbollah.

Hassan Nasrallah was targeted in a massive bombing in Beirut on Friday night, an operation involving F-16 planes targeting residential buildings in Beirut where the IDF said Nasrallah was ‘hiding.’

It is unclear as to Nasrallah’s fate but if he has been killed it would all but scupper talk of a ceasefire as Nasrallah would have been the major decision-maker for the militant group in any negotiations.

This is the second key assassination that has thrown a spanner in the works of ceasefire negotiations. Israel is widely believed to have assassinated Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas lead negotiator in the Gaza ceasefire talks. His assassination, is believed to have been carried out by Israel’s Mossad, whose head is the lead negotiator for Israel in the Gaza ceasefire talks.

The U.S. says it was not aware of the attempted assassination on Nasrallah, despite Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin being on the phone to Israel Defense Minister Yoav Galant as the attack was being carried out.

“I know that you’re seeing reports about a significant strike today in Beirut,” Austin told reporters at Joint Base Andrews on Friday, after returning from the AUKUS Defence Ministers’ Meeting Communique in London.

“I spoke by phone earlier today to my counterpart in Israel Minister Gallant.”

“The United States was not involved in Israel’s operation. We had no advance warning. My call with Minister Gallant took place while Israel’s operation was already underway,” he said.

“As you know this operation took place just a few hours ago and they’re still making assessments, so I don’t have any further information or specifics for you at this time. You’ve heard me say a number of times, an all-out war should be avoided.”

“Diplomacy continues to be the best way forward, and it’s the fastest way to let displaced Israeli and Lebanese citizens return to their homes on both sides of the border,” the U.S. defense secretary said.

“I’ll be talking with Minister Gallant again soon and I look to get an update from him when we have that conversation. Thank you.”

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