Israel kills Islamic Jihad commander in Gaza airstrike
Synopsis
In a single weekend, Israel's military killed an Islamic Jihad supply commander in Khan Yunis and two senior Hezbollah figures in southern Lebanon — including a Radwan Force battalion commander whose family was reportedly inside the struck headquarters. With Gaza's death toll surpassing 73,000 and Lebanon's crossing 4,300 since March, the pace of targeted strikes is accelerating across both fronts simultaneously.
Key Takeaways
The Israeli military killed Islamic Jihad commander Tareq Anwar Khamis Ra'i in a Khan Yunis airstrike on Sunday .
Gaza health authorities report at least 73,399 killed and 174,310 injured in Gaza since October 2023 .
Hezbollah's Badr division commander Abu Hassan Alaa was killed in a strike on Deir al-Zahrani , Lebanon, on Saturday .
Ali Samir Al-Haj Hassan , a battalion commander in Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force , was also killed in Ansar, Nabatieh District .
At least seven people were killed in Ansar strikes — among the deadliest attacks since Lebanon's 2024 ceasefire .
Israeli attacks have killed at least 4,300 people in Lebanon since fighting resumed on 2 March .
The Israeli military confirmed on Tuesday, 18 August that it had killed an Islamic Jihad commander in the Gaza Strip, identifying him as Tareq Anwar Khamis Ra'i, a company commander in the group's supply unit. According to the military, Ra'i was killed in an airstrike on Sunday in the Khan Yunis area of southern Gaza, where he reportedly 'advanced terror attacks against troops.'
Casualties in Gaza
According to Gaza health authorities, Israeli military operations have killed at least 73,399 people and injured 174,310 others in Gaza since October 2023. The figures, which cannot be independently verified, represent one of the most severe casualty tolls in the region's recent history.
Strikes in Lebanon: Hezbollah Commanders Killed
In a parallel set of operations on Saturday, the Israeli military said it killed a senior commander in Hezbollah's Badr regional division in southern Lebanon. The commander was identified as Abu Hassan Alaa, killed in a strike on Deir al-Zahrani. Lebanese media reported at least four people were killed in that attack.
The Israeli military described the Deir al-Zahrani strike as 'a response' to an earlier Hezbollah drone attack that wounded three Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon. The Israeli prime minister's office confirmed the soldiers were seriously injured and said the military 'responded by striking the Hezbollah terror headquarters which ordered the attack.'
On the same night, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also struck a Hezbollah headquarters in the town of Ansar, Nabatieh District, killing Ali Samir Al-Haj Hassan, identified as a battalion commander in Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force. The IDF said the strike was in response to a Hezbollah attack against Israeli forces in what it termed the 'security zone.' The military added that Hassan's family was also present inside the headquarters at the time of the strike.
One of the Deadliest Attacks Since 2024 Ceasefire
Also on Saturday, seven people were killed in heavy Israeli airstrikes on the southern Lebanese village of Ansar — described as one of the deadliest Israeli attacks since a ceasefire was reached in 2024. Israeli attacks have killed at least 4,300 people in Lebanon since the latest round of fighting began on 2 March.
Regional Escalation Pattern
The simultaneous targeting of commanders in both Gaza and Lebanon signals a continued Israeli military posture of striking militant leadership across multiple fronts. Notably, the strikes come amid an already volatile regional environment, with the Gaza conflict now entering its second year and Lebanon operations intensifying since March. The killing of multiple senior figures in a single weekend marks one of the most concentrated targeted-strike operations in recent months.
Point of View
Gaza's casualty count, now exceeding 73,000 according to local health authorities, underscores the scale of a conflict that has outlasted most diplomatic frameworks designed to contain it. The Lebanon front, largely underreported since the 2024 ceasefire, is quietly re-escalating — and the 4,300 dead since March deserve as much attention as the Gaza toll.
NationPress
18 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the Islamic Jihad commander killed by Israel in Gaza?
The commander was identified as Tareq Anwar Khamis Ra'i, a company commander in Islamic Jihad's supply unit. He was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Sunday in the Khan Yunis area of southern Gaza, according to the Israeli military.
How many people have been killed in Gaza since October 2023?
According to Gaza health authorities, at least 73,399 people have been killed and 174,310 others injured in Gaza since October 2023. These figures have not been independently verified.
Which Hezbollah commanders were killed in Lebanon?
Two Hezbollah commanders were killed on Saturday: Abu Hassan Alaa, a senior commander in the Badr regional division, was killed in Deir al-Zahrani; and Ali Samir Al-Haj Hassan, a battalion commander in the elite Radwan Force, was killed in Ansar, Nabatieh District.
Why did Israel strike targets in southern Lebanon?
The Israeli military said the strikes were in response to Hezbollah drone and ground attacks that wounded three Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon. The prime minister's office confirmed the soldiers were seriously injured and described the strikes as a direct retaliation.
How many people have been killed in Lebanon since fighting resumed?
Israeli attacks have killed at least 4,300 people in Lebanon since the latest round of fighting began on 2 March, according to available reports. The Ansar strikes on Saturday were described as among the deadliest since a ceasefire was reached in 2024.
