IDF destroys Nasrallah’s Beirut headquarters

Air Force bombards 11-storey building in Beirut’s Bir-Hassan area, a Shiite stronghold in where Nasrallah’s headquarters is located; Hizbullah spokesman says Hizbullah chief not hurt in the attack. IDF: Attack’s objective was not to assassinate Nasrallah

Roee Nahmias|Published: 07.14.06 , 20:34

The Israeli Air Force continued bombarding targets deep in Lebanese territory Friday evening. At around 8 p.m. a cloud of smoke was seen rising from an 11-storey building in the Bir-Hassan area, a Shiite stronghold in Beirut where Hizbullah Chief Hassan Nasrallah’s headquarters is located.

However, Nasrallah himself was apparently not in the building at the time of the attack.

A Hizbullah spokesman confirmed that Nasrallah was not hurt in the attack, nor was his family or entourage.

Zaharani Bridge in Lebanon bombarded (Photo: Reuters)

Nasrallah’s residence is located inside the complex that was attacked by the IAF, and IDF sources said two buildings were destroyed in the attack.

The objective, army sources clarified, was not to assassinate Nasrallah.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert personally supervised the aerial attacks against Hizbullah's stronghold in south Beirut’s el-Dahia neighborhood, and even watched the bombings through a monitor at an Air Force control center.

'We will not back down'

Attorney-General Menachem Mazuz was consulted by the government prior to the operation for fear that civilians will be injured.

The attack was authorized by a special forum, which included, among others, Olmert, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter.

“At the moment the entire Arab world is watching us, and we must not show weakness. This is the time for resolve,” Olmert, who warned the military against harming civilians, said following the meeting.

As to the possibility that the attack may lead to a Hizbullah response, the prime minister said, “this may lead to retaliation, but the current situation is that they are holding us hostage through their Katyusha and rocket fire; hundreds have already been fired at Carmiel, Safed, Haifa and other communities. Katyushas kill – we will not back down.”

The IDF has attacked some 200 targets in Lebanon on Friday, including petrol tanks at Beirut’s International Airport, a Katyusha cache in the southern part of the country, a central bridge on the Beirut-Damascus road, two bridges on the Zaharani and Litani rivers, a Hizbullah anti-tank missile and the radio and TV stations “Nur” and Al-Manar,” which are affiliated with Hizbullah.

According to reports, residents of the Ina al-Saab village were given a two-hour ultimatum to clear the area. It was also reported that a navy ship fired missiles at the Shiite quarter in the capital.