Fuad Shukr / Security Lense| News and Media| 31-July-2024
Israel announced it has killed Fuad Shukr, a top Hezbollah commander, in an airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburb. The Israeli military referred to the operation as an “intelligence-based elimination”. While Hezbollah has not confirmed Shukr’s death, they acknowledged he was in the targeted building during the strike.
Shukr was reportedly responsible for a recent rocket attack on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, which resulted in the deaths of 12 people, primarily children. However, Hezbollah has denied involvement in that attack. The building hit in the airstrike is located in Daniyeh, a stronghold for Hezbollah, and Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati has condemned the attack as “blatant Israeli aggression” and a “criminal act”.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant stated that “Hezbollah crossed the red line,” justifying the airstrike. The Israeli government had informed the US of their plans prior to the operation, according to CBS News.
Fuad Shukr is a senior adviser to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. The US had previously placed a $5 million bounty on Shukr, accusing him of a significant role in the 1983 bombing of a US Marines barracks in Beirut, which killed 241 US military personnel.
The airstrike targeted Haret Hreik, a densely populated and fortified area within Dahiyeh, which is surrounded by Hezbollah checkpoints. Rescue operations are ongoing, with rubble still being cleared and several casualties reported.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reiterated President Joe Biden’s stance that a broader conflict between Israel and Hezbollah should be avoided, emphasizing the desire to prevent an all-out war. Despite the strike, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have not issued new shelter instructions for civilians, indicating they do not foresee an immediate large-scale retaliation from Hezbollah.
This airstrike comes after the recent deadly attack in the Golan Heights and is the most severe incident near the Israel-Lebanon border since the hostilities escalated in October. This escalation followed Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7th, which led Hezbollah to open a limited second front in Israel’s north.
Global leaders are urging restraint to avoid a full-scale war. The UK has advised its nationals to leave Lebanon immediately, warning of the risks of being trapped in a conflict zone. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Defence Secretary John Healey are in Qatar, working to mediate and de-escalate the situation, emphasizing the importance of cooperation with regional partners like Qatar.
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