Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah organization in Lebanon, has been killed.

The 64-year-old was assassinated Friday afternoon during a significant Israeli airstrike on Hezbollah’s underground headquarters in Beirut. His death was confirmed by the Israel Defense Forces on Saturday morning, followed by an acknowledgment from Hezbollah later in the day.

As news spreads among Israeli and Lebanese citizens, many are speculating whether this event may lead to an Israeli ground invasion aimed at pushing Hezbollah north of the Litani River. Nasrallah marks the 18th Hezbollah leader to be targeted through precision Israeli operations based on highly accurate intelligence in recent weeks, making him the most significant figure to be eliminated.

Hezbollah’s leadership has suffered severe losses since the summer, raising questions about the group’s future. It remains to be seen whether Iran will direct mid-level Hezbollah operatives to retaliate by launching missiles at Israel, as the group has an arsenal of approximately 150,000 missiles.

The Iranian embassy in Beirut condemned the strikes, labeling them a serious escalation and a crime warranting punishment. Meanwhile, reports indicate that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu traveled to New York partly to mislead Nasrallah into believing he was safe.

The IDF announced on Friday that it had conducted a precise strike on Hezbollah’s central headquarters, which was reportedly constructed beneath residential buildings in Dahieh, Beirut, as part of the group’s strategy to use civilians as human shields. The IDF has stated that its operations will continue to target Hezbollah’s capabilities and infrastructure in southern Lebanon.

In response to the attack, Netanyahu is reportedly cutting his trip to New York short and returning to Israel, a rare move for the Jewish Sabbath. Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has also decided to return to Beirut early following the Israeli strike.