Israel says it killed Hezbollah commander in Beirut blamed for Golan Heights strike : NPR

BEIRUT, Lebanon, and TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel says its forces killed a high Hezbollah commander in a focused strike within the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital of Beirut, in retaliation for a lethal weekend rocket assault within the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights.

In a press release late Tuesday, Israel’s army mentioned “Israeli Air Power fighter jets eradicated the Hezbollah terrorist group’s most senior army commander and the top of its Strategic Unit, Fuad Shukr ‘Sayyid Muhsan,’ within the space of Beirut.”

Calling him a “right-hand man” to Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, the assertion mentioned Fuad Shukr was chargeable for operations together with the assault that killed 12 youngsters and youngsters and wounded a number of individuals on Saturday in Majdal Shams, within the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights.

Hezbollah, a Lebanese militia and political motion supported by Iran, has denied involvement in Saturday’s Majdal Shams assault.

In a press release launched on Wednesday, Hezbollah mentioned Shukr was current within the constructing through the time of the assault, however didn’t verify his dying. Israel didn’t say the way it decided the Hezbollah commander was killed or present proof of his dying. Hezbollah has not commented on Tuesday’s strike in Beirut or whether or not Shukr died.

Hours after the assault in Beirut, Hamas mentioned its high political chief Ismail Haniyeh was killed in a focused raid in Iran. Haniyeh was in Tehran for the inauguration ceremony of latest Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Hamas accused Israel of killing Haniyeh whereas Israeli officers mentioned they’d “no remark” when requested in regards to the Tehran assault.

In Beirut, the Israeli assault prompted a big explosion, leaving an residence constructing partially collapsed. Police closed off the roads and an ambulance wailed its strategy to the realm. Individuals had been shouting, “My household was inside, my household is inside!” as they ran towards the explosion.

Israel had made it clear that it will retaliate for Saturday’s rocket assault it blamed on Hezbollah. “Hezbollah crossed the crimson line,” Israeli Protection Minister Yoav Gallant wrote on X Tuesday.

The strike got here because the worldwide group has been urging restraint from either side, fearing that an escalation on the Israel-Lebanon border might spark an all-out conflict.

Israeli army spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari mentioned: “Our goal will not be for conflict, however we’re well-prepared for it.”

He added that Israel is “in steady dialogue” with the USA and its army, “particularly tonight.”

America says Israel has a proper to defend itself in opposition to threats from Hezbollah, whereas diplomacy can be wanted to resolve conflicts within the area.

“Israel has a proper to defend itself and I unequivocally assist Israel’s proper to stay safe and to defend the safety of Israel,” Vice President Harris mentioned after touchdown in Atlanta for an election marketing campaign journey.

“What we all know specifically is it has a proper to defend itself in opposition to a terrorist group, which is precisely what Hezbollah is. However all of that being mentioned, we nonetheless should work on a diplomatic resolution to finish these assaults and we are going to proceed to do this work,” she mentioned.

On Monday, White Home nationwide safety spokesperson John Kirby instructed reporters, “We do not wish to see the conflict escalate” and “to see a second entrance” open up between Israeli forces and Hezbollah. “What we wish to do and what we’re nonetheless centered on is discovering a diplomatic resolution right here to scale back the tensions,” he mentioned.

U.S. diplomats consider the easiest way to defuse the Israeli-Hezbollah battle is to succeed in a cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza.

Israel and Hezbollah have been buying and selling hearth because the conflict in Gaza started on Oct. 7 of final 12 months, after the Hamas-led assault on Israel. The Israel-Hezbollah combating has largely remained confined to targets close to the border.

In January, Hamas chief Saleh al-Arouri was killed in a strike in Beirut that was extensively blamed on Israel, however that the Israeli army didn’t verify or deny.

Kat Lonsdorf and Hadeel Al-Shalchi reported from Tel Aviv, Israel; Jane Arraf and Jawad Rizkallah reported from Beirut.