Israel has attacked a heavily Shiite-populated area in the south of the Lebanese capital, Beirut, targeting a senior Hezbollah official.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry said one person was killed and 35 were injured in the attack.
The Israeli military confirmed the attack
The Israeli military confirmed it had carried out airstrikes in Beirut, saying a Hezbollah commander responsible for an attack on the Druze village of Majdel Shams had been targeted.
The Israeli army said the attack was complete and that there was no change to the defensive order on the Lebanese border.
A source close to Hezbollah confirmed that Hezbollah commanders were targeted.
In a message shared on social media after the attack, Israel’s defence minister said Hezbollah had crossed all the red lines that should not be crossed.
Hezbollah’s number two was the target of the attack
Israeli media said the attack targeted Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr, known as Hezbollah’s number two. Fuad Shukr was in charge of Hezbollah’s military operations.
Fuad Şükrü is also known as Hajj Muhsin. He is one of the top advisers to Hezbollah leader Nasrallah.
According to the Israeli military, Fuad Shukr was head of Hezbollah’s guided missile program.
Fouad Shukr was also wanted by the United States for his role in the 1983 attack on a US military base in Beirut.
Israel: Fuad Shukr killed in attack
Israeli state television KAN announced that the target, Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr, was killed in the attack.
Lebanon: We appeal to the United Nations
Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Abdullah Bouhabib made the statement, saying he hoped Hezbollah’s response to the Israeli air strikes on Beirut would be “proportionate” to prevent an escalation of tensions.
Boukhabib also announced that he would file a complaint about Israel with the UN Security Council.
Majdel Shems’ attack
It was announced that a rocket fell on a soccer field in the town of Majdel Shams in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, killing 12 people, including a child, and wounding 35, 17 of them seriously.
The Israeli army said “based on the information they had and their assessment” that the rockets were fired from north of the southern Lebanese town of Sheba, and blamed Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
Meanwhile, Lebanon’s Hezbollah denied claims that the attack in Majdel Shams was carried out by them, saying “they have nothing to do with the incident.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also spoke out against the attack, saying, “Israel will not stand by and watch this deadly attack. Hezbollah will pay a heavy price, one it has never paid before.” He used the following phrase:
