In a significant escalation, Israel announced on Thursday that it had successfully targeted and killed a commander of Hezbollah's elite Radwan force. The operation, described as an airstrike, took place in the southern suburbs of Beirut on Wednesday.
This strike marks the first time Israel has attacked the Lebanese capital since a ceasefire was brokered last month. The announcement was made jointly by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz.
The attack has immediately placed the fragile ceasefire under intense pressure. The agreement had previously halted Israeli strikes on Beirut, even as Israeli forces remained positioned south of the Litani River and continued operations in southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group, has responded to ongoing Israeli actions in the south by firing rockets and launching armed drones at Israeli soldiers. Following the Beirut strike, the Israeli military conducted further attacks on Lebanese territory on Thursday.
As of the latest reports, Hezbollah has not issued a confirmation regarding the death of its commander. Rescue teams were seen working at the site of the Israeli strike in southern Beirut on Thursday.
The situation remains highly volatile, with the ceasefire's durability now in question following this direct strike on Beirut. Based on reporting from g1.