In a significant escalation of the ongoing Middle East conflict, Israel has launched a major airstrike against Lebanon’s Hezbollah, killing seven of its top commanders, including its leader, Hassan Nasrallah. This devastating attack has further inflamed tensions in the region, raising concerns about a potential wider conflict.
The Israeli strikes, one of the most substantial against Hezbollah, also resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people, including women and children, marking a grim turn in the conflict. The surprise attack came after Hezbollah openly supported its ally Hamas in the Gaza Strip, following Hamas’s deadly assault on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.
The elimination of key Hezbollah leaders, including Hassan Nasrallah, Nabil Kaouk, and Ibrahim Akil, among others, is likely to weaken the group’s leadership and provide Israel with a strategic advantage. However, the attack also carries significant risk, potentially sparking a regional conflagration.
Here’s a closer look at the key Hezbollah figures killed in the Israeli strike:
Hassan Nasrallah:
The charismatic and influential leader of Hezbollah, Nasrallah steered the group through several wars with Israel since 1992. He oversaw Hezbollah’s transformation into a powerful force in Lebanon, playing a significant role in Lebanese politics while simultaneously engaging in regional conflicts. Nasrallah was also instrumental in keeping Syrian President Bashar Assad in power following the Syrian uprising in 2011. Under his leadership, Hezbollah also nurtured the capabilities of Iran-backed armed groups in Iraq and Yemen.
Nabil Kaouk:
Kaouk, who served as Hezbollah’s deputy head of the Central Council, was a veteran of the group, joining in the early 1980s. He held the position of Hezbollah’s military commander in south Lebanon from 1995 until 2010. Kaouk, known for his public appearances and speeches, was seen as a potential successor to Nasrallah.
Ibrahim Akil:
Akil, a top commander, led Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Forces, a unit that Israel had sought to distance from its border with Lebanon. He was also a member of the Jihad Council, Hezbollah’s highest military body, and had been on the U.S. wanted list for years. The U.S. State Department alleged Akil’s involvement in the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut and the capture of German and American hostages.
Ahmad Wehbe:
As a commander of the Radwan Forces, Wehbe played a crucial role in the group’s development since its inception nearly two decades ago. He was killed alongside Akil in an airstrike in Beirut’s southern suburbs, leveling a building.
Ali Karaki:
Karaki, who led Hezbollah’s southern front, was a key figure in the ongoing conflict. The U.S. considered him a significant figure in the group’s leadership. Limited information is available about Karaki, who was killed alongside Nasrallah.
Mohammad Surour:
Head of Hezbollah’s drone unit, Surour spearheaded the group’s deployment of drones for the first time in the current conflict with Israel. Under his leadership, Hezbollah launched exploding and reconnaissance drones deep into Israel, penetrating its defense systems primarily focused on the group’s rockets and missiles.
Ibrahim Kobeissi:
Kobeissi commanded Hezbollah’s missile unit and was accused by the Israeli military of planning the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli soldiers at the northern border in 2000. The soldiers’ bodies were returned four years later in a prisoner exchange with Hezbollah.The Israeli airstrike against Hezbollah has further intensified an already volatile situation in the Middle East. The attack’s long-term consequences remain uncertain, but it is clear that the region has entered a dangerous new phase.
