Beirut, Lebanon – In a series of precision airstrikes, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have reportedly eliminated several high-ranking Hezbollah commanders in Beirut, escalating tensions between Israel and Lebanon. The latest strike on Saturday resulted in the death of Hassan Khalil Yassin, a senior Hezbollah intelligence officer. Yassin was responsible for identifying civilian and military targets in northern Israel and played a key role in planning terror attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers, according to the IDF.
Yassin’s death comes amid a wave of targeted IDF strikes aimed at crippling Hezbollah’s military infrastructure. IDF spokespersons highlighted Yassin’s close collaboration with Hezbollah’s offensive units and his involvement in attacks during the ongoing conflict.
This strike follows the earlier assassination of Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, on Friday. Nasrallah, a prominent figure who had led Hezbollah for decades, was reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting Hezbollah’s main headquarters in the Dahiyeh district, a Hezbollah stronghold in southern Beirut. The IDF confirmed Nasrallah’s death, stating, “Hassan Nasrallah will no longer be able to terrorize the world.”
The elimination of Nasrallah, along with other top commanders, marks a significant escalation in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The IDF has intensified operations against Hezbollah’s weapon production facilities, targeting sites in southern Lebanon and the Beqaa Valley responsible for manufacturing missile and rocket launchers. These efforts, according to Israeli military sources, are aimed at dismantling Hezbollah’s capacity to launch precision-guided missile attacks on Israeli territory.
In retaliation, Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel from Lebanon. Sirens sounded in Jerusalem following a rocket launch, further heightening tensions in the region. The situation is rapidly evolving, with both sides bracing for continued conflict.
The IDF has been systematically targeting Hezbollah’s military leadership in recent days. On September 28, the IDF announced the killing of Muhammad Ali Ismail, Commander of Hezbollah’s Missile Unit in southern Lebanon, and his deputy, Hussein Ahmad Ismail. Both figures were central to Hezbollah’s missile operations and had directed numerous attacks against Israel. Their deaths follow the elimination of Ibrahim Muhammad Qabisi, the Head of Hezbollah’s Missiles and Rockets Force, and Muhammad Hussein Srour, Commander of Hezbollah’s Aerial Command, in earlier airstrikes.
Hezbollah, known for its deep-rooted presence in Lebanon and its alignment with Iran, has long been a significant military force in the region. The ongoing Israeli strikes, which have claimed the lives of key Hezbollah figures, are likely to spark further hostilities. Observers fear that the conflict could spread beyond Lebanon and Israel, pulling other regional actors into the fray.
As both sides continue to engage in retaliatory strikes, the international community is watching closely, concerned about the broader implications of the escalating violence in an already volatile Middle East.