Blitzer in washington in for fredricka whitfield. Were standing by for major Breaking News right now significant developments unfolding in the Middle East right now, another huge Explosion Rocking Beirut Just A Little while ago in the last hour or so, as israel continues its punishing airstrikes On Hezbollah forces in the lebanese capital. This as we learn, the leader of one of the most powerful paramilitary forces in the Middle East was killed in one of those strikes around backed Militant Group hezbollah, confirming its secretary general Hassan Nasrallah was killed in israeli bombing in beirut On Friday, around State Media says a senior iranian commander was also among those killed in that blast. Nasrallah was one of his balahs founders playing a key role in its formation. And the targeting of israel for over four decades. If his death igniting fears of a wider conflict in the region, those fears, fear of very vague very serious right now iran Supreme Leader saying today that all reg
hariri was assassinated in 2005. so of course hezbollah has they are the leading to believe, to behind this attack, gregg. gregg: well, conor, we know the ambassador was a very outspoken critic of hezbollah of the that is a pretty dangerous thing to be doing when you re in lebanon. is that likely what cost him his life? reporter: so this is pleased to be a very professional attack. the type that has hezbollah carried out in the past and has the ability to carry out but beirut s been rocked by a lot of violence in recent weeks and month, particularly an attack on the iranian embassy in beirut. there are plenty of groups in lebanon that can carry out these types of attacks. shatah has been outspoken critic of hezbollah, al qaeda and syria s assad. he was on his way to an anti-syrian meeting. he has made a lot of enemies in
big black smoke through a posh downtown district. the army later blocking off the area where twisted wreckage of several cars are still smoldering. gregg: conor powell in the middle east bureau with the latest. what do you know so far? reporter: gregg, as you said at least five people were killed, more than 70 people injured as a massive explosion rocked an upscale neighborhood in downtown beirut. it brew out blew out windows for several city blocks, sending smoke across the entire area. the device appears was detonated by remote. violence is no stranger to beirut. it appears the target of today s blast was a convoy of a pro-western former lebanese minister ambassador to washington. he was an important advisor to the hariri family, one. most powerful political dynasties in all of lebanon. the former prime minister, rafik