Israel’s military conducted an airstrike in Beirut on Thursday, targeting the commander of Hezbollah’s aerial unit resulted on the death of Mohamed Hussein Sarour, also known as Abu Saleh.
As of Thursday afternoon, there was no immediate confirmation of his death from Hezbollah, according to New York Times.
Lebanon’s health ministry confirmed that two people were killed in the attack but did not identify them.
The airstrike struck a tall building in a residential area of southern Beirut, with photos and videos from the scene documenting the aftermath.
This attack occurred less than a week after an airstrike in Beirut killed several senior Hezbollah commanders.
Among the deceased was Ahmed Wahbi, a prominent leader in Hezbollah’s elite Radwan force, and Ibrahim Aqeel, a commander wanted by the United States.
The 1983 bombings in Beirut, which killed hundreds of Americans, are linked to Aqeel, underscoring the strike’s significance.
Israeli strikes have reportedly caused civilian casualties, with dozens of non-combatants also killed in previous airstrikes.
In its statement, the Israeli military indicated that Mr. Sarour was responsible for manufacturing drones for Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
He was also involved in intelligence gathering and served as an emissary to Yemen, where Houthi militants have conducted aerial attacks on Israel.
The Israeli military accused Sarour of “advancing and directing numerous aerial terror attacks,” including drone attacks aimed at Israeli civilians.
However, not all Israeli attempts to eliminate Hezbollah commanders have been successful in recent days.
On Monday, an assassination attempt on Ali Karaki, a top commander in southern Lebanon, reportedly failed.
Hezbollah announced that Karaki survived the attack and was moved to a “safe place” following the strike.
The ongoing airstrikes highlight the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah amid heightened regional tensions.
These developments suggest a concerted Israeli effort to dismantle Hezbollah’s military leadership and capabilities.
Both sides remain on high alert as the situation continues to evolve in the region.