July 31, 2024:Israel announced that it had eliminated a top Hezbollah commander, Fouad Sukar, in a targeted strike on a southern suburb of Beirut. The explosion in Dahiyeh, a Hezbollah stronghold, resulted in at least one fatality and multiple injuries. However, Hezbollah is yet to confirm the death.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) identified Sukar as the mastermind behind a recent rocket attack on Majdal Shams, which tragically claimed the lives of 12 children and teenagers. Sukar, considered Hezbollah’s second-in-command, was reportedly responsible for the group’s military operations.
The strike was part of an “intelligence-based elimination” by Israeli fighter jets, targeting Sukar due to his involvement in the Golan Heights attack. Hezbollah, however, has denied any role in the Majdal Shams incident. Sukar, a senior advisor to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, was also implicated by the US in the 1983 bombing of a US Marines barracks in Beirut.
In the wake of the strike, US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin expressed a preference for a diplomatic resolution, stating that a conflict between Israel and Hezbollah is not inevitable. Despite calls for restraint from international envoys, Hezbollah has refused to rule out retaliation for the Israeli strike.
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned the strike, labelling it a “blatant Israeli aggression” and a violation of international law. Israeli defence Minister Yoav Gallant responded by stating that Hezbollah had “crossed the red line.”
The White House, through Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, echoed the sentiment of avoiding escalation, emphasizing the desire to prevent a wider war. The IDF indicated no new shelter instructions for Israelis, implying they do not expect an immediate or significant Hezbollah response. The potential for broader conflict, involving Iran supporting Hezbollah, looms over the region.
The incident in Majdal Shams, where a rocket hit a football pitch killing mostly children, was the deadliest near the Israel-Lebanon border since the October escalation. This escalation was triggered by a Hamas attack on Israel, with Hezbollah subsequently opening a second front in the north. Global leaders have been urging restraint to prevent an all-out war.
Amid the heightened tensions, countries like India have advised their citizens to avoid travelling to Lebanon, and several airlines have cancelled flights. Meanwhile, in Gaza, the IDF reported killing over 150 militants last week and destroying significant militant infrastructure in Khan Yunis. The Gaza Health Ministry reported over 39,400 Palestinian fatalities and nearly 91,000 injuries since the onset of the conflict.
