Israeli forces kill senior commander killed in Beirut amid rising tensions

Israel’s military announced on Tuesday that it has killed Fuad Shukr, a senior commander of Hezbollah, in an airstrike on Beirut, a response to a cross-border rocket attack that resulted in the tragic deaths of 12 young people in Israel just three days prior.

The incident marks a critical juncture in the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group, raising concerns about a broader regional escalation.

Witnesses reported a deafening explosion and a thick plume of smoke rising from Beirut’s southern suburbs, a known Hezbollah stronghold, at approximately 7:40 p.m. local time. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant confirmed the strike, asserting that Shukr, who he claimed had “the blood of many Israelis on his hands,” was a key figure in Hezbollah’s operations. “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 to this end,” he stated.

Hezbollah has yet to officially respond to the airstrike, which is believed to have targeted a location associated with the group’s Shura Council in the Haret Hreik neighborhood. While they have denied involvement in the rocket attack on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights that killed the youths, they confirmed launching rockets at a military target in the same area. The Israeli military claims that Shukr was instrumental in orchestrating the attack.

The airstrike, however, did not come without collateral damage, as reports indicate that three civilians, including two children, lost their lives in the blast, with 74 others injured. Footage from the scene revealed significant destruction, including a multi-storey building with its top corner sheared off, and charred debris scattered across the streets where crowds gathered to show support for Hezbollah’s leadership.

In the wake of the escalating violence, Lebanon’s foreign minister, Abdallah Bou Habib, condemned the Israeli strike and announced plans to file a formal complaint with the United Nations. He expressed hope that Hezbollah’s response would remain proportionate to avoid further bloodshed, stating, “We were not expecting them to hit Beirut and they hit Beirut.”

The international community is closely monitoring the situation, with UN Special Coordinator Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert urging both Israel and Lebanon to pursue diplomatic solutions to the conflict. She emphasized that “there is no such thing as a military solution” amidst rising tensions in the region.

Meanwhile, the White House reiterated its commitment to Israel’s security against threats posed by Iran-backed groups, including Hezbollah, while advocating for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis. Despite the recent airstrike, Israeli military officials indicated that no new civil defense instructions had been issued, suggesting a desire to avoid an all-out war.

As the situation continues to unfold, fears of escalation loom large. Reports indicated that approximately 25 rockets were launched from southern Lebanon into northern Israel on the same day, resulting in the death of a civilian in Kibbutz Hagoshrim. The ongoing exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israel, which have intensified since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict in October, raise alarms about the potential for a broader military confrontation, a concern echoed by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who stated that while a fight is not inevitable, the risk of escalation remains high.

The delicate balance of power in the region hangs in the balance as both sides navigate the tumultuous landscape of conflict and retaliation.