The IDF eliminated Hezbollah’s top military commander, Fuad Shukr, in an airstrike on Beirut Tuesday, in response to the recent rocket attack on Majdal Shams that killed 12 children.
The attack on Majdal Shams sparked intense public pressure for a strong response against Hezbollah. The terrorist organization had warned that any major Israeli strike would lead to an equally heavy attack in return.
World leaders had already expressed concern that the attack on Majdal Shams would lead to a drastic escalation in the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. The latest strike on Beirut has now made those concerns a lot more concrete.
What happened?
The IDF struck a building in the Dahieh suburb, south of Beirut, claiming it had targeted the Hezbollah commander responsible for the rocket fire on Majdal Shams and several other attacks in Israel’s north.
Dahieh is seen as the central stronghold of Hezbollah in Lebanon’s capital, as the terrorist organization’s central bases and offices are all in that area. For Hezbollah, this is expected to be viewed as inflaming the already-tense situation, possibly opening Israel up to further retaliation.
The building hit in the strike reportedly belongs to Hezbollah’s Shura Council, its central decision-making authority.
Shukr joined Hezbollah in 1985, not long after the terrorist movement was founded. He was the “right-hand man” of the group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, his main advisor on military affairs. He was also responsible for Hezbollah’s most advanced weaponry, including precision-guided missiles, cruise missiles, anti-ship missiles, long-range rockets, and drones, according to the IDF.
Shukr was also sanctioned by the U.S. due to his involvement in multiple operations, including the bombing of the U.S. Marine Corps barracks in Beirut on Oct. 23, 1983. This attack resulted in the deaths of 241 U.S. military personnel and left 128 others injured.
After the IDF eliminated Hezbollah’s top military commander, it stressed that it was not trying to start a war, but was “well prepared for it,” if necessary.
Shortly after the strike, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant posted on X, ‘Hezbollah crossed the red line.”
Hezbollah has not, as of yet, officially responded to the strike.
What comes next?
The central question now is how Hezbollah will respond.
Hezbollah warned that it would retaliate with rocket fire deep into Israel if the IDF conducted strikes on locations like Beirut.
However, this isn’t the first time Israel has struck Beirut during the war.
In January, Israel assassinated Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri in an airstrike in the Dahieh area. That strike did not lead to a major escalation.
This time is different though since it was a Hezbollah site — not a Hamas site — targeted in the strike. It also comes after months of escalating tensions between the two sides.
Hezbollah has an arsenal of tens of thousands of rockets, missiles, and drones — some of which can reach as far south as Eilat, 300 miles away from the Lebanese border.
In a full-out war, Hezbollah is expected to launch thousands of rockets daily toward Israel. The group also has precision-guided missiles and drones, meaning it can directly and accurately target military bases, power plants, and other critical sites. Israeli authorities have prepared in recent months for the possibility of long-lasting power outages, mass casualty events, and damage to critical infrastructure.
In light of the deadly attack on Majdal Shams and the retaliation in Beirut, Israel and Hezbollah appear to be moving closer to the brink of war, but hopes for a diplomatic solution still haven’t been completely abandoned. Which path the two sides will take remains to be seen.
Originally Published Jul 30, 2024 06:52PM EDT
