BEIRUT: An Israeli strike killed one of Hezbollah’s senior field commanders and three of its fighters late on Tuesday, three security sources said, in a heavy blow to the Lebanese group which has been locked in hostilities with Israel for eight months.
In an apparent response, Hezbollah fired a barrage of around 50 launches from southern Lebanon into the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, Israel said.
Hezbollah and Israel have been trading fire since the eruption of the Gaza war in October, with hostilities steadily escalating as both sides signal a readiness for a bigger confrontation.
Hezbollah confirmed the death of the commander, naming him as Taleb Abdallah, also known as Abu Taleb. He was killed in a strike in the village of Jouya in south Lebanon. His funeral is due to be held later on Wednesday.
He was the most senior Hezbollah commander killed during the hostilities, one of the sources said. The sources said he was Hezbollah’s commander for the central region of the southern border strip.
There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.
The security sources said the four members of the Iran-backed Hezbollah were likely targeted during a meeting.
The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the commander was senior to Wissam Tawil, a high-level Hezbollah commander killed in an Israeli strike in January.
Israeli strikes have killed some 300 Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon — more than it lost in 2006, according to a Reuters tally which puts the number of civilians killed at around 80. Attacks from Lebanon have killed 18 Israeli soldiers and 10 civilians, Israel says.
The Israeli military says it has killed more than 320 Hezbollah members, including at least 100 targeted after field operatives gathered “precise high-quality intelligence” on them.
Israel kills a senior Hezbollah commander, three fighters
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Israel kills a senior Hezbollah commander, three fighters
- The commander, named as Taleb Abdallah, is most senior Hezbollah leader killed in escalating hostilities
Palestinians have right to live in peace in ‘own land’: pope
- The two-state solution “remains the institutional framework that addresses the legitimate aspirations of both peoples. Instead, we unfortunately see escalating violence in the West Bank against Palestinian civilians, who have the right to live in peace on
VATICAN CITY: Pope Leo XIV has lamented rising violence in the occupied West Bank and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, saying Palestinians had the right to live peacefully in their “own land.”
“Sadly, there has been an increase in violence in the West Bank against the Palestinian civilian population, which has the right to live in peace in its own land,” said the US pope, adding that civilians in Gaza also should be assured “a future of lasting peace and justice in their own land.”
During his annual meeting with diplomats accredited to the Vatican to exchange New Year greetings, the Pope said the “humanitarian suffering of civilians continues despite the ceasefire announced in October, adding to the hardships they have already endured.”
He added: The Holy See closely follows every diplomatic initiative aimed at ensuring a future of lasting peace and justice for Palestinians in Gaza, for all Palestinians, and for all Israelis.”
The two-state solution “remains the institutional framework that addresses the legitimate aspirations of both peoples. Instead, we unfortunately see escalating violence in the West Bank against Palestinian civilians, who have the right to live in peace on their land,” he said.
“War is back in vogue, and a zeal for war is spreading,” Pope Leo said, warning that the “weakness of multilateralism is a particular cause for concern.”
“A diplomacy that promotes dialogue and seeks consensus among all parties is being replaced by a diplomacy based on force, by either individuals or groups of allies,” the pope said.
