Did Israeli Airstrike Eliminate a Senior Hezbollah Commander in Lebanon?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Israeli airstrike
- Abbas Hassan Karky
- The assault raises tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.
- Ceasefire still in effect, but hostilities continue.
- Israel cites ongoing threats as justification for airstrikes.
Jerusalem/Beirut, Oct 25 (NationPress) The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that they successfully executed a strike that resulted in the death of a high-ranking Hezbollah commander in southern Lebanon.
According to the statement, Abbas Hassan Karky, who served as the logistics commander for Hezbollah's Southern Front headquarters, was killed in the Nabatieh region of southern Lebanon.
He was allegedly instrumental in efforts to enhance Hezbollah's combat capabilities over the past few months, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The IDF indicated that Karky was responsible for leading initiatives to restore Hezbollah's operational capacity in southern Lebanon, including the reconstruction of infrastructure damaged during the previous year’s conflicts.
Additionally, he oversaw the reorganization of the group's structure and managed the transfer and storage of weaponry in the area.
As reported by Lebanon's National News Agency, an Israeli airstrike targeted a vehicle on a road in southern Lebanon on Friday, leading to the death of Abbas Hassan Karky.
A Lebanese security source confirmed Karky's affiliation with Hezbollah but did not provide additional information.
Lebanese media further reported that Karky was connected to Ali Karaki, the former head of the Southern Front, who was assassinated alongside prominent Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah last year.
This incident occurred shortly after Israel conducted airstrikes across Lebanon targeting Hezbollah positions, including an arms depot and a training facility, resulting in four reported fatalities, one of whom was an elderly woman.
Earlier in the week, Israel claimed to have assassinated a platoon commander from Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force in southern Lebanon, accusing him of facilitating weapon movements and planning future attacks.
In both instances, Israel justified its actions by stating that the targets' activities violated the ceasefire terms.
A ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel has been in place since November 27, 2024, which has significantly reduced hostilities sparked by the Gaza conflict.
Nonetheless, the Israeli military continues to carry out periodic strikes in Lebanon, citing ongoing threats from Hezbollah, while maintaining a presence at five key locations along the Lebanese border.