Israeli Airstrike Kills Hezbollah Radwan Commander In Beirut’s Southern Suburbs

Israeli forces launched an airstrike on Wednesday against a commander of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Forces in Beirut’s southern suburbs, killing at least one person, according to local officials. The Washington Post said the strike hit the Haret Hreik neighborhood and was the first attack near the Lebanese capital since the start of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire last month. The BBC reported the air strike hit Dahieh, where Hezbollah is based, and said images posted online showed large flames and at least one building heavily damaged. The BBC also said the local media reported members of the unit were meeting when the attack happened at around 20:00 local time (18:00 BST).

In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had personally approved the strike targeting a commander of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force, and the BBC said there was no reaction from Hezbollah. The BBC quoted Netanyahu saying: "No terrorist is immune - Israel's long arm will reach every enemy and murderer." The Washington Post reported that the airstrike targeted the leader of the Radwan forces, and it said Israeli authorities described the unit as Hezbollah’s elite and battle-hardened fighting unit. DW’s coverage also framed the action as Israel’s first strike on Beirut since the Lebanon ceasefire, while it reported that Iran was still reviewing the U.S. peace proposal and that Trump threatened to resume bombardments of Iran if negotiations fall apart.

The BBC said Lebanon's health ministry reported that the attacks have killed more than 120 people across the country in the past week alone, including women and children, and it said the ministry does not distinguish combatants from civilians. It also said Israel’s military occupies a strip of Lebanese land along the border and that officials say the aim is to create what they describe as a Hezbollah-free security zone to protect Israel's northern communities. The BBC added that in those areas, entire villages have been destroyed and that rights groups say some cases could amount to war crimes. In parallel, the BBC reported that talks between Israel and Lebanon, supported by the US, have continued but largely at the ambassador level, with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun rejecting a meeting with Netanyahu any time soon.