Israel Kills Senior Hezbollah Official in Airstrike, Blames Him for Deadly Attack

Israel's military has killed a senior Hezbollah official, Fuad Shukr, also known as Hajj Mohsen, in an airstrike in Beirut, Lebanon. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed Shukr was responsible for a deadly attack on the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights last week that killed 12 young people. The IDF stated that Shukr was the commander responsible for the murder of the 12 children in Majdal Shams, as well as the killing of numerous Israelis and foreign nationals over the years.

The airstrike, carried out by a drone and three missiles, targeted a building in the Haret Hreik area, a Hezbollah stronghold, causing it to collapse. According to reports, two people were killed and at least 10 were wounded, including six children and two in critical condition. The Lebanese Red Cross reported more than one person killed and over 20 injured, while the Lebanese Health Ministry stated a woman was killed and up to 68 people were injured, five critically.

Hezbollah has denied responsibility for the rocket attack on Saturday, which struck a soccer field in the Golan Heights. The group has been trading fire with Israel since Hamas' October 7 terrorist attack on Israel and the start of the war in Gaza, raising fears of a regional conflict. Shukr was a senior adviser to Hezbollah's supreme leader, Hassan Nasrallah, and a member of the group's military council.

The Israeli military described Shukr as the head of Hezbollah's Strategic Unit, responsible for weaponry including missiles, rockets, and drones. He joined Hezbollah in 1985. The White House National Security Council spokesperson supported Israel's right to defend itself, stating, “Our commitment to Israel's security is ironclad and unwavering against all Iran-backed threats, including Hezbollah.”