Israel’s airstrike on southern Beirut suburbs on Sunday killed a top Hezbollah deputy commander, marking the first strike on that area since June.
Israeli Forces Report Killing Hezbollah Deputy
The Israel Defense Forces said the Sunday strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs eliminated a senior Hezbollah staff officer, nicknamed the “right-hand man of the Hezbollah chief.” The casualty was reportedly the deputy chief of the organization’s staff in Lebanon.
Context: Hezbollah’s Role in Lebanon
Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Shia militia that co-governs Lebanon, is a sworn enemy of Israel. Last year’s brief war saw Israel eliminate many of the group’s key leaders, and recent weeks have seen clashes despite the militia’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon to local forces.
Details of the Beirut Suburb Attack
The strike targeted a residential building on a main road in the heavily populated southern Beirut area. Reports indicate that rockets struck the third and fourth floors of a 95-stories building, damaging vehicles and nearby structures. One person was confirmed dead, 21 others injured.
Reactions From Lebanese Leadership
Lebanon’s president, President Joseph Aoun, called on Israel to stop its attacks and urged the international community to intervene decisively to protect Lebanese civilians.
Pattern of Israeli Attacks on Lebanon
Israel has conducted almost daily strikes on Lebanese targets since the November ceasefire that ended more than a year of war against Hezbollah, usually claiming to hit members of the group in the south and east of the country.