JERUSALEM. Israel’s military has announced the killing of a top Hezbollah commander, Fuad Shukr, in an airstrike on Beirut. This operation was reportedly in response to a rocket attack three days prior, which Israel attributes to Hezbollah and which resulted in the deaths of 12 youths in the Druze village of Majdal Shams.

The airstrike occurred around 7:40 p.m. local time (1640 GMT), with a Reuters witness describing a significant explosion and a large plume of smoke rising from Beirut’s southern suburbs, a known Hezbollah stronghold.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant confirmed the strike, stating, “Fuad Shukr has the blood of many Israelis on his hands. Tonight, we have shown that the blood of our people has a price, and that there is no place out of reach for our forces to this end.”

Hezbollah has not yet responded to the claim, and the group denies any involvement in the rocket attack on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. However, a senior security source from another regional country has confirmed Shukr’s death from injuries sustained in the strike.

The Israeli military identified Shukr as the principal aide to Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah and the key figure behind the Saturday’s attack. The airstrike also resulted in civilian casualties, with medical and security sources reporting the deaths of three civilians, including two children. Lebanese health officials reported 74 people injured and three fatalities in the attack, which targeted the Shura Council headquarters in the Haret Hreik neighborhood.

Footage from the scene shows significant damage, including a multi-story building with a severely damaged corner and streets strewn with charred debris. Amid the destruction, crowds gathered to express support for Hezbollah’s leadership.

Hezbollah has denied any involvement in the Golan Heights attack but acknowledged launching rockets at a military target in the area. The recent violence has spurred high-level diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation. UN Special Coordinator Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert has urged both Israel and Lebanon to seek diplomatic solutions, asserting, “There is no such thing as a military solution.”

The White House has reaffirmed its support for Israel, stating its commitment to countering “all Iran-backed threats including Hezbollah,” while also advocating for a diplomatic resolution.

The Israeli military has not issued new civil defense instructions, suggesting a potential de-escalation of immediate military actions. Israeli media reports indicate that the recent airstrike might conclude its response to the Golan Heights attack, depending on Hezbollah’s reaction.

Throughout the day, approximately 25 rockets were launched from southern Lebanon into northern Israel, resulting in the death of a 30-year-old man in Kibbutz Hagoshrim, according to medics.

Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib condemned the Israeli strike and announced plans to file a complaint with the United Nations. He expressed hope for a measured response from Hezbollah to avoid further escalation, stating, “We were not expecting them to hit Beirut and they hit Beirut. Hopefully, any response will be proportionate and will not be more than that, so that this wave of killing, hitting and shelling will stop.”

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, speaking before the strike, expressed concerns about the potential for escalation but remained hopeful that a broader conflict could be avoided.

The current hostilities mark a continuation of the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, which last saw a major confrontation during the 2006 Lebanon War. Despite recent exchanges of fire, both sides have indicated they do not seek an extensive conflict, though concerns about the risk of a broader war persist.