On Tuesday evening, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) targeted an eight-story apartment building in southern Beirut with an airstrike, resulting in the death of Fuad Shukr, Hezbollah’s highest-ranking military commander. The IDF stated that Shukr, who was a key associate of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, was responsible for the rocket attack on Majdal Shams that occurred on Saturday, which resulted in the deaths of 12 children.
The airstrike caused extensive damage to the building, creating a large hole in its side. The IDF confirmed that Shukr, also known as Hajj Mohsin, was killed in this attack. According to the IDF, Shukr had been involved in managing Hezbollah’s frequent attacks on Israel following Hamas’s assault on southern Israel on October 7. Shukr was a member of Hezbollah’s Jihad Council and headed its strategic division. He had previously been identified by the IDF as a leader of Hezbollah’s precision missile project and was also wanted by the United States for his role in the 1983 bombing of a US Marines barracks in Beirut, for which a $5 million bounty had been placed on him.
The IDF described Shukr as responsible for Hezbollah’s advanced weaponry and strategic operations against Israel. He had been active in Hezbollah since the 1980s and had held several senior roles, including involvement in attacks against the IDF and the South Lebanon Army, and the abduction of Israeli soldiers in 2000.
Hezbollah has not immediately confirmed Shukr’s death, and initial reports suggested he might have survived the attack. The Lebanese state-run National News Agency reported that the strike targeted an area near Hezbollah’s Shura Council in the Haret Hreik neighborhood of Dahieh. According to their report, the strike was executed using a drone that launched three rockets.
In response to the airstrike, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant tweeted, “Hezbollah crossed the red line.” This was the first Israeli attack on Beirut since a January strike that killed Hamas’s deputy leader abroad, Saleh al-Arouri. The strike followed a series of diplomatic efforts to prevent a larger escalation in the region. Airlines had canceled flights to Beirut, and Lufthansa had suspended several flights to Tel Aviv.
Before the airstrike, Israel had informed the US of its plans. US State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel emphasized ongoing diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions and allow civilians to return to safety, while reaffirming US support for Israel’s right to self-defense. The Russian foreign ministry criticized the strike as a “flagrant violation of international law.”
The security cabinet in Israel was reportedly not briefed ahead of the attack, and there were no immediate updates on home front guidelines for Israeli civilians despite the potential for retaliation. The IDF has urged the public to remain vigilant and follow existing safety guidelines.
The strike followed a series of Hezbollah rocket attacks on Israeli territory, including a recent attack that killed an Israeli civilian in Kibbutz HaGoshrim. The IDF reported that most of the rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system and responded with artillery fire at the launch site.
Since October 8, Hezbollah-led forces have frequently attacked Israeli communities and military posts along the border, claiming these actions are in support of Gaza amid the ongoing conflict there. The skirmishes have resulted in 25 civilian deaths in Israel, including those from Tuesday’s attack, and the deaths of 18 IDF soldiers and reservists. On the Lebanese side, 384 Hezbollah members, 68 operatives from other terror groups, a Lebanese soldier, and numerous civilians have been killed.
