Hezbollah chief killed in Israeli strike on Beirut

Iran-backed group confirms death that could destabilise Lebanon as a whole

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Israel has killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in a powerful air strike in Beirut, dealing a huge blow to the Iran-backed group as it reels from an escalating campaign of Israeli attacks.

Hezbollah on Sept 28 confirmed earlier announcements by Israel's military that it had killed Nasrallah in an air strike on Beirut's southern suburbs the day before, a move that could destabilise Lebanon as a whole.

In a statement, Hezbollah said: "Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, secretary-general of Hezbollah, has joined his great, immortal martyr comrades whom he led for about 30 years."

The statement confirmed Nasrallah was killed with other members of the group "following the treacherous Zionist strike on the southern suburbs" of Beirut.

Hezbollah gave no immediate indication of who might succeed Nasrallah.

Senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine has long been regarded as the heir apparent.

The group has not issued any statement on his status or that of any other Hezbollah leaders - apart from Nasrallah - since the attack.

In central Beirut, AFP journalists heard a passer-by screaming "oh my God", while women wept in the streets right after Hezbollah announced Nasrallah's death.