A soldier shaped target lays near the border with Lebanon as seen from a position on the Israeli side of the border on July 1, 2024. (Amir Levy/Getty Images/TNS)
(Tribune News Service) — Israel’s military killed a senior Hezbollah commander in an airstrike after targeting his vehicle in south Lebanon, local media reported.
The head of the militant group’s Aziz unit was hit while traveling in the Hosh area in Tyre, Al-Jadeed television said Wednesday. Hezbollah confirmed one of its commanders, Mohammed Nasser, was killed by Israel.
Israel has killed hundreds of members of the Iran-backed militia, including other senior commanders, since the two sides began near-daily cross-border fire in October. The simmering conflict has raised fears of an all-out war that could draw in Tehran and other regional powers, and countries including the U.S. are working to prevent an escalation.
“We are hitting Hezbollah very hard every day and we will be fully prepared to carry out any action required in Lebanon or reach an agreement — from a position of strength,” Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said. “We prefer the latter, but if reality forces us, we will know how to fight.”
Hezbollah has been firing rockets into Israel in solidarity with Hamas, whose attack on Israel on Oct. 7 triggered the ongoing war in Gaza. Israel has responded with strikes in Lebanon. Both Hezbollah and Hamas are considered terrorist organizations by the U.S.
A month ago, Hezbollah escalated its attacks against Israel after the killing of its most senior military commander, Taleb Abdullah.
With assistance from Galit Altstein and Alisa Odenheimer.
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