Israel says top Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr killed in Beirut airstrike

Israel’s military claimed responsibility for an airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburbs Tuesday evening, which killed Hezbollah’s senior commander Fuad Shukr. The strike was a retaliation for a cross-border rocket attack that killed 12 youngsters in Israel three days prior, an attack Israel attributed to the Lebanese militant group.

The airstrike occurred at around 7:40 pm local time, sending a loud blast and a plume of smoke above the stronghold of Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group, a Reuters witness reported. The targeted strike, which hit near Hezbollah’s Shura Council in Haret Hreik, also resulted in the deaths of three civilians, including two children, and injured 74 people, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced Shukr’s death, stating, “Tonight, we have shown that the blood of our people has a price, and that there is no place out of reach for our forces.” Shukr, a key aide to Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, was blamed by Israel for orchestrating the deadly rocket attack.

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Hezbollah has denied any involvement in the initial rocket strike on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights but admitted to targeting a military site in the region. The deaths of the youths have sparked diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation, with UN Special Coordinator Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert urging both sides to seek diplomatic solutions.

The airstrike drew widespread condemnation from Lebanese officials and Hezbollah’s regional allies, including Hamas, the Houthis, Syria, and Iran. The White House reaffirmed its support for Israel against “all Iran-backed threats including Hezbollah” and indicated efforts toward a diplomatic resolution.

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Despite the strike, Israeli media suggested that Israel did not plan further immediate actions, aiming to avoid an all-out war. Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib condemned the strike and mentioned plans to lodge a complaint with the United Nations, expressing hope for a proportionate Hezbollah response to prevent further escalation.

The situation remains tense as both sides, engaged in intermittent hostilities since the Gaza war’s outbreak in October, face the potential for further conflict.

With inputs from Reuters