Iran poised to attack Israel after death of top Hezbollah terror chief

IRAN was on the brink of launching strikes on Israel last night in a dangerous escalation of war in the Middle East following the killing of one of its most senior generals in Lebanon.

- Marco Giannangeli

Gen Abbas Nilforushan, deputy of operations for Iran's notorious Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, was killed alongside Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah during an Israeli air strike on Beirut on Friday morning.

The 58-year-old Iranian is thought to have been sent to the Lebanese capital to help Hezbollah shore up gaping holes in its command and control structure following a fortnight of Israeli attacks.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has already been transferred to a secure location inside the country with heightened security measures in place, according to regional officials.

The sources said Tehran is in constant contact with Hezbollah and other regional proxy groups to determine the next step.

Nasrallah was killed in a powerful air strike on the terror organisation's underground central command HQ beneath a residential building in Dahiyeha Hezbollah-controlled southern suburb of Beirut. Other commanders, including senior leader Ali Karaki, were also killed.