BEIRUT: A senior commander from Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs on Wednesday, marking the first such attack on the area in nearly a month, according to a source close to the group.
Strike Details
The Israeli military targeted the commander of Hezbollah's Radwan Force, as confirmed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, identified the slain commander as Malek Ballout, the operations commander in the Radwan Force. Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported that Israeli warplanes struck the Ghobeiri area in the southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold. An AFP correspondent witnessed a building reduced to rubble, with residents evacuating carrying their belongings.
Context of the Attack
Many residents of the southern suburbs had already fled after Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East war in March, and they have not returned despite a truce in place since April 17. A Lebanese security source told AFP that the strike hit an apartment where Radwan leaders were holding a meeting. Beirut and its southern suburbs had been spared Israeli attacks since April 8, when massive strikes across the country killed more than 350 people.
Regional and International Reactions
Wednesday's attack coincided with US President Donald Trump stating there was "a very good chance" of reaching a peace deal with Iran. Israel has repeatedly bombed Lebanon, particularly the south, since the truce, with Hezbollah retaliating by launching attacks on Israeli troops. The Israeli military reported that an explosive drone impact wounded four soldiers, one severely, in southern Lebanon on the previous day.
Continued Attacks and Casualties
Earlier Israeli strikes on southern and eastern Lebanon killed at least 11 people, according to the Lebanese health ministry. In Saksakiyeh, four people were killed and 33 wounded, including six children and four women. The NNA also reported strikes across the south, including several on the town of Yater. Since March 2, Israeli strikes on Lebanon have killed more than 2,700 people and displaced over one million, particularly from southern and eastern Lebanon and Beirut's southern suburbs.
Impact on Healthcare
World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the WHO has verified 152 attacks on healthcare, resulting in 103 deaths and 241 injuries. These attacks have led to the closure of three hospitals and 41 primary health centers, and caused damage to 16 additional hospitals.
Ceasefire Terms and Military Stance
The ceasefire terms allow Israel to act against "planned, imminent or ongoing attacks" by Hezbollah. Visiting troops in southern Lebanon, where Israel has established a "yellow line," Israeli army chief Eyal Zamir said they will "seize every opportunity to deepen the dismantling of Hezbollah and continue weakening it."
