AhlulBayt News Agency: In the wake of the assassination of Hezbollah’s Secretary-General, Hassan Nasrallah, new details have surfaced regarding the planning, execution, and internal debates that surrounded the operation. The Israeli government, particularly Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, reportedly disagreed on the timing of the strike, but the operation ultimately proceeded due to what was deemed a critical opportunity.
The Israeli Air Force’s 69th Squadron led the strike, with its pilots unaware of the identity of their target until just hours before the operation. “We were on alert for days and realized we had an extraordinary opportunity,” the squadron commander told Israel’s Channel 13.
According to the Israeli military, aircraft from the 69th Squadron dropped approximately 85 bunker-buster bombs on the entire block, each containing one ton of explosives, as part of the mission to eliminate Nasrallah. Four buildings were entirely leveled, murdering everyone inside including civilians.
The New York Times, citing Israeli officials, reported that Israel had been tracking Nasrallah’s movements for several months, with the final decision to target him being made last week. The timing was driven by a perceived dwindling window of opportunity, as Nasrallah was expected to move to a more secure location.
Reports from Haaretz revealed that Prime Minister Netanyahu initially sought to delay the operation until after his return from a trip to New York. Sources involved in high-level security discussions last week said Netanyahu had asked to postpone any decision until he was back in Israel, which was expected to be by Sunday.
In the discussions held prior to his departure for the United States, Netanyahu stated that he would make a final decision regarding the assassination after his return. However, as “new operational opportunities arose”, Netanyahu reportedly approved the mission while still abroad.
In the lead-up to the operation, Netanyahu and Gallant engaged in numerous discussions with senior security officials. Haaretz sources noted that while Gallant pushed for an immediate strike, Netanyahu initially hesitated. A final phone discussion involving members of Israel’s security cabinet was held just a day before the strike, during which Netanyahu and Gallant were granted the authority to make the decision.
On Friday, Israeli security officials informed both leaders of an ideal moment to carry out the assassination, and they ultimately agreed to proceed.
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The Israeli Air Force’s 69th Squadron led the strike, with its pilots unaware of the identity of their target until just hours before the operation. “We were on alert for days and realized we had an extraordinary opportunity,” the squadron commander told Israel’s Channel 13.
According to the Israeli military, aircraft from the 69th Squadron dropped approximately 85 bunker-buster bombs on the entire block, each containing one ton of explosives, as part of the mission to eliminate Nasrallah. Four buildings were entirely leveled, murdering everyone inside including civilians.
The New York Times, citing Israeli officials, reported that Israel had been tracking Nasrallah’s movements for several months, with the final decision to target him being made last week. The timing was driven by a perceived dwindling window of opportunity, as Nasrallah was expected to move to a more secure location.
Reports from Haaretz revealed that Prime Minister Netanyahu initially sought to delay the operation until after his return from a trip to New York. Sources involved in high-level security discussions last week said Netanyahu had asked to postpone any decision until he was back in Israel, which was expected to be by Sunday.
In the discussions held prior to his departure for the United States, Netanyahu stated that he would make a final decision regarding the assassination after his return. However, as “new operational opportunities arose”, Netanyahu reportedly approved the mission while still abroad.
In the lead-up to the operation, Netanyahu and Gallant engaged in numerous discussions with senior security officials. Haaretz sources noted that while Gallant pushed for an immediate strike, Netanyahu initially hesitated. A final phone discussion involving members of Israel’s security cabinet was held just a day before the strike, during which Netanyahu and Gallant were granted the authority to make the decision.
On Friday, Israeli security officials informed both leaders of an ideal moment to carry out the assassination, and they ultimately agreed to proceed.
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