Top Hezbollah commander killed as Israel bombs Beirut suburbs

BEIRUT — A senior Hezbollah commander from the group’s elite Radwan force was killed as Israeli forces bombed Beirut’s southern suburbs on Wednesday evening. A source close to Hezbollah told AFP on condition of anonymity that “Malek Ballout, the operations commander in the Radwan force” was assassinated. “Israeli warplanes launched an attack, targeting Ghobeiri” in the southern suburbs, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported, as a loud explosion and extensive damage were reported from the area. The attack is the first on the Hezbollah stronghold in nearly a month. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his military had targeted “the commander of Hezbollah’s Radwan force.” “Radwan terrorists are responsible for shooting at Israeli settlements and harming [Israeli army] soldiers. No terrorist has immunity – Israel’s long hand will catch every enemy and murderer,” Netanyahu said in a post on Telegram. “We promised to bring security to the residents of the north – this is how we do it and this is how we will continue to do it!” he added. Hezbollah has not yet responded to the Israeli claim. Beirut and its southern suburbs had been spared Israeli attacks since April 8, when massive Israeli strikes across the country killed more than 350 people. Israeli forces have continued to strike Lebanon’s south and east despite the truce, killing at least 13 people on Wednesday. An Israeli strike in Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley killed four people, while the Israeli army said it struck Hezbollah targets in the south, after warning residents of a dozen towns to evacuate. Meanwhile, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for several operations targeting Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, as well as attacks on northern Israel. Wednesday’s attack came as US President Donald Trump said there was “a very good chance” of sealing a peace deal with Iran. Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East war on March 2 by attacking Israel in support of its backer Iran. Israeli strikes on Lebanon have since killed more than 2,700 people and displaced more than a million, particularly from southern and eastern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs. While a truce went into force on April 17, Israel has repeatedly bombed Lebanon, particularly the south, with Hezbollah retaliating by launching attacks on Israeli troops.