Lebanon's Hezbollah group on Saturday confirmed the death of its leader Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut.
A statement released by Hezbollah said Nasrallah had joined his fellow martyrs. The statement also added the group will continue its battle.
"His eminence, the master of resistance, the righteous servant, has passed away to be with his lord who is pleased with him as a great martyr. 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.
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Nasrallah has led Hezbollah for more than three decades since the mid-1980s. Nasrallah is by far the most powerful target to be killed by Israel since its intensified strikes targeting Hezbollah.
Israel's military had said it had carried a precise airstrike on Friday while Hezbollah leadership met at its headquarters in Dahiyeh, south of Beirut. Israel's spokesperson had said Hezbollah command centres were legitimate military targets under international law.
In the wake of the recent events, Lebanon's cabinet is set to convene an emergency session on Saturday evening.
Israel's strike on Hezbollah leader is an alarming escalation in the conflict.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a Saturday message said "The resistance movement, headed by Hezbollah, will decide the fate of the region, in a statement read on state TV.
Khamenei urged all regional forces to stand by and support Hezbollah. He added that Hezbollah was strong enough to withstand Israeli attacks. Iran is the main supporter of Lebanese Hezbollah and other militant groups in the region.
