Top Hezbollah Commander Fouad Shukur Killed in Israeli Strike, Group Confirms

The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah confirmed on Wednesday that Israel killed a top commander after a rare strike in Beirut. The Iran-backed group stated that Fouad Shukur was in the building during the attack on Tuesday, and they were searching for him in the rubble to determine his fate. The announcement came after an overnight strike in Tehran that killed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, which Hamas and Iran blamed on Israel.

Lebanon's public health ministry reported that Tuesday's strike in a southern suburb of Beirut wounded 74 people, some seriously. The wounded were taken to nearby hospitals, and Bahman Hospital near the blast site called for blood donations. The Lebanese Health Ministry also said at least five civilians — two children and three women — died in the strike in a busy neighbourhood where Hezbollah has political and security operations.

Hezbollah's Response to the Attack

Hezbollah official Ali Ammar told Al-Manar TV, "The Israeli enemy has committed a great stupid act in size, timing and circumstances by targeting an entirely civilian area." He added, "The Israeli enemy will pay a price for this sooner or later." Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned the Israeli attack, noting it hit just a few meters from one of the largest hospitals in the capital.

Israel and Hezbollah have exchanged fire since October 8, following an attack by Hamas on southern Israel that sparked the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Though Hezbollah denied involvement in the rocket attack Saturday in Majdal Shams, Israel holds the militant group responsible. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant posted on X shortly after Tuesday's strike, "Hezbollah crossed a red line."

Impact on Civilians

The airstrike on Beirut's southern suburb of Haret Hreik damaged several buildings. The strike hit an apartment building near a hospital, collapsing half of the targeted building and severely damaging one next to it. The hospital sustained minor damages, while surrounding streets were littered with debris and broken glass. Paramedics could be seen carrying several wounded people out of the damaged buildings.

A resident living about 200 meters away said dust from the explosion "covered everything," breaking glass in his son's apartment. "Then people went down on the streets," he said. "Everyone has family. They went to check on them. It was a lot of destruction." He spoke anonymously due to security concerns during this tense period.

Historical Context and Recent Developments

The last time Israel targeted Beirut was in January when an airstrike killed top Hamas official Saleh Arouri. That strike was the first time Israel had hit Beirut since the 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah in summer 2006. Diplomats had expected Israel to retaliate for the Majdal Shams strike but believed it would stay within ongoing low-level conflict boundaries without provoking all-out war.

Israel stated late Tuesday that it had killed Shukur, who they claimed was behind the weekend rocket attack in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights that killed 12 youths. The United States also blames Shukur for planning a bombing of a Marine Corps barrack in Lebanon in 1983 that killed 241 American service members.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported that the strike was carried out with a drone that launched three rockets. Talal Hatoum, a local official with Hezbollah's key political ally Amal Movement, said Tuesday's attack marked a shift in engagement rules due to significant civilian casualties.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not immediately release a statement but sent a photo of Netanyahu with his national security adviser and other officials minutes after the strike. Many diplomats had not expected Israel to hit Beirut, fearing it might provoke Hezbollah to strike a major population centre in Israel.

The two sides have exchanged near-daily strikes for ten months against Gaza's war backdrop but previously kept conflict levels low to avoid full-scale war.