Israel launched the fatal blow against Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah after learning he was to meet with senior commanders of his movement at his underground headquarters in southern Beirut, the Israeli military said today.

Israeli military spokesman Lt. Gen. Nadav Shoshani said the operation, which the military calls “New Order,” took place on Friday while Nasrallah was meeting with senior officials in his organization to plan new attacks against Israel.

“We had real-time intelligence, an opportunity, an operational opportunity that allowed us to carry out this attack”he told reporters.

Army Radio reported, citing the head of the Air Force squadron that took over the operation, that the pilots were briefed on the target shortly before takeoff.

“Pilots didn’t know what the target was in the days it was being planned” the blow, said the officer, identified only as “Lieutenant Commander M”. They learned the target a few hours before they set off and understood where they were going, he added.

Sosani declined to comment on speculation that US-made Mark 84 heavy bombs may have been used in the strike. Brigadier General Amishai Levin, the commander of Hajerim Air Base, told reporters that “dozens” of munitions hit the target within seconds.

Ali Karaki, the head of Hezbollah’s forces on the southern front whom Israel tried to kill earlier this week, was also killed in the strike, Shosani said.

“We have been collecting information on Nasrallah for a few years. For decades we gathered intelligence, understanding that at some point he would try to start a war. We had real-time information and carried out the strike,” the spokesman added.