Israel eliminates another top Hezbollah commander in Beirut strike

On October 1, the Israeli military announced that it had killed another senior Hezbollah commander, Muhammad Jaafar Qasir, in an airstrike in Beirut. 

According to the Israeli army, Qasir was responsible for overseeing the transfer of weapons from Iran to Hezbollah and played a key role in advancing the group’s missile capabilities, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The airstrike comes amidst heightened regional tensions, with Israel and Hezbollah engaged in intense cross-border warfare since Israel's campaign in Gaza began. The Israeli army said that Qasir "oversaw the development of Hezbollah's precision missile project and the organization’s firing capabilities." Hezbollah has yet to confirm the report of Qasir's death.

The conflict further escalated when Iran launched around 180 ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday, in retaliation for the reported assassinations of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, and Iranian IRGC commander Abbas Nilforoshan. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Iran that it had made a “big mistake” and vowed retribution.

Since September 23, Israeli airstrikes have heavily targeted Hezbollah positions across Lebanon, killing over 1,073 people and wounding nearly 3,000, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry. Among the casualties were top Hezbollah leaders, including Nasrallah.

The Israeli military also confirmed that it has launched ground operations against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, further intensifying the conflict. The ongoing warfare between Hezbollah and Israel has raised fears of a broader regional escalation, particularly as Israel's military offensive in Gaza continues, having claimed more than 41,600 lives, predominantly women and children, following the Hamas attack in October.

The international community has expressed concern that the situation could spiral into a wider regional war, given Hezbollah's close ties to Iran and its active role in the conflict.

By Khagan Isayev