BEIRUT — The Israeli military claimed on Saturday that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an airstrike in Beirut on Friday.

It said that Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah and one of its founders, was eliminated together with Ali Karki, the Commander of Hezbollah’s Southern Front, and additional Hezbollah commanders, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement.

There has been no confirmation from Hezbollah. Nasrallah, aged 64, was one of the founders and secretary general of Hezbollah. He has led Hezbollah for more than three decades. Nasrallah oversaw Hezbollah’s transformation into one of the most powerful militia forces in the Middle East.

Israeli Air Force jets “conducted a targeted strike on the central headquarters of the Hezbollah terrorist organization, which was located underground embedded under a residential building in the area of Dahiyeh in Beirut,” the IDF said, adding, “the strike was conducted while Hezbollah’s senior chain of command were operating from the headquarters and advancing terrorist activities against the citizens of the State of Israel.”

Following the announcement, the army chief warned this is “not the end of our toolbox.” Israel has been escalating its attacks on Hezbollah. Overnight, Israel launched further strikes on southern Lebanon, targeting what it says are stores of Hezbollah weapons. State-run media in Lebanon says there have been casualties.

Lebanon has recorded more than 100,000 people displaced by the recent conflict, but authorities said the true number is likely much higher. Up to half a million people are likely internally displaced, said Dr. Firass Abiad, Lebanon’s health minister.

Hezbollah began firing on northern Israel the day after Hamas’ October 7 attack on the country. Around 60,000 Israelis have been forced from their homes, whom the Israeli government has committed to returning. Last week, Israel massively ramped up its military campaign against Hezbollah, killing hundreds and displacing hundreds of thousands of civilians, according to the Lebanese government. — CNN