The september 2024 assassination of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah,the former secretary-general of Hezbollah,was a meticulously planned operation fraught wiht internal Israeli debate and strained relations with the United States. New details have emerged, shedding light on the moments leading up to the strike and the political fallout that followed.

The Green Light: A Speech and a Secret

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after weeks of deliberation, authorized the assassination at the precise moment he concluded his address before the United Nations General Assembly in New York, according to Israel’s Kan 11 news channel. This timing was deliberately chosen to minimize immediate international backlash.

Washington in the Dark: A Diplomatic Breach

The decision to keep the U.S. largely uninformed sparked important tension. Mike Herstog, the former Israeli ambassador to Washington, had advised informing the American administration beforehand to mitigate potential diplomatic repercussions. However, Mr. netanyahu initially resisted, yielding only to pressure from Defence Minister Joav Gallant and other security officials.

Ultimately, a decision was made to inform U.S. National Security Advisor Jacques Salivan. However, contact was unsuccessful, and Mr. Salivan learned of the assassination only minutes after it occurred. his reaction, according to sources, was one of extreme anger. He reportedly told Israeli officials,You make us look like stupid,we were preparing for a ceasefire initiative with Lebanon,and you are carrying out an assassination that might ignite the region.

A Quarter-hour Warning: The Defense Minister’s Call

The only prior American notification came from Mr. Gallant, who informed his counterpart, Defense Secretary Lee Austin, just 15 minutes before the strike. Mr. Gallant recounted the conversation in an interview with Israeli Channel 13:

I informed him that we are about to implement the assassination of Nasrallah.He told me angry: You may ignite a regional war. I answered him: This man is responsible for the killing of thousands of Israelis and hundreds of Americans.

Joav Gallant, Israeli Defense minister

Mr. Gallant further stated that Mr. Austin questioned the certainty of Nasrallah’s location, to which he replied, We have high -resolution facts that confirms this.

The intelligence: An Iranian Spy and a Secret Meeting

The operation was triggered by precise intelligence indicating Nasrallah would attend a clandestine meeting at hezbollah headquarters in Beirut’s southern suburb, specifically on the 14th underground floor. The French newspaper Le Parisien reported that an Iranian spy provided Israel with the timing of Nasrallah’s arrival. He was accompanied by Abbas Nilvuroshan, the deputy commander of the Quds force in Lebanon. Together, they attended the funeral of Mohamed Sorour, the leader of the Missalat Unit, before heading to the meeting in Haret Hreik.

While Le Parisien claimed the information arrived just four hours before the meeting,Kan 11 reported the intelligence was available several days prior,allowing security services to make a decisive decision. A high-security meeting was convened, including Chief of Staff Herzi Hleve, Mossad chief Dodi Barana, Shin Bet chief Ronin Bar, and defense Minister Gallant, all of whom agreed on the necessity of the assassination.

Netanyahu’s Hesitation and Final Approval

Despite the security consensus, Mr. Netanyahu initially hesitated, requesting time to consider the implications. Mr. Gallant reportedly pressed him repeatedly,arguing that this is an opportunity that occurs once in age. mr. Netanyahu remained undecided untill his departure for New York.

In New York, he granted final approval, stipulating that the assassination occur after his UN speech. The timing was meticulously planned: 6 p.m. New York time, minutes after he left the podium.

The channel confirmed that Mr. Netanyahu received a note from his military secretary while still on the scene, containing only one word: Done.