In an exclusive interview with Israeli Channel 12 on Thursday, former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant spoke for the first time about the circumstances surrounding the death of Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s former Secretary-General. Nasrallah was killed on September 27, 2024, in an Israeli airstrike targeting the group’s headquarters in Beirut’s southern suburbs.
During the interview—his first televised appearance in nearly two years—Gallant disclosed new details about the Israeli operation that eliminated the highest-ranking figure in the Shiite group.
He explained that he had personally pushed for an intensification of the strike to maximize its chances of success, specifically by doubling the amount of munitions used in the attack.
“The operation was launched on a Friday,” Gallant recounted. “The previous Sunday, the chief of staff and the commander of the air force briefed me on the attack plan and informed me of Nasrallah’s exact location.” He continued, “When I asked about the likelihood of success, they estimated it at 90%. That’s when I suggested doubling the amount of explosives from 40 to 80 tons.”
Regarding internal government discussions leading up to the attack, Gallant revealed that during a cabinet meeting two days before the operation, a majority of ministers supported Nasrallah’s elimination, with only two voices opposing it.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu then interrupted the debate and held a closed-door meeting with senior military officials, Gallant added. During that meeting, the head of Israeli intelligence warned that Nasrallah could leave his current location at any moment, heightening the urgency for immediate action.
The decisive turning point came when Netanyahu, after much hesitation, finally gave the green light for the attack, Gallant recalled. The former minister also noted that the prime minister delayed the strike to ensure it would not coincide with his scheduled speech at the United Nations that day.
At precisely 6:20 PM on Friday, September 27, 2024, the Israeli military dropped 84 tons of explosives on the designated targets, successfully eliminating Hassan Nasrallah.
It is worth noting that Yoav Gallant, who stepped down as Israel’s Defense Minister in November, is currently facing war crimes charges at the International Criminal Court.
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