Israeli airstrike kills senior Al-Jama’a al-Islamiyya commander in Beirut

In a targeted Israeli airstrike, Hassan Atwi, a senior commander in the Al-Jama’a al-Islamiyya group, was killed south of Beirut.

The strike, which hit a vehicle, has been confirmed by Arab media sources. Al-Jama’a al-Islamiyya, an organization with strong ties to the Muslim Brotherhood in Lebanon, has been an active participant in anti-Israel operations, often collaborating with Hezbollah forces in their shared hostility toward Israel, Caliber.Az reports.

Atwi, a key figure in the group's military operations, was reportedly traveling in the vehicle at the time of the strike. His death represents a significant blow to the organization, which has supported militant efforts in Lebanon and beyond, aligning itself with Hezbollah in the ongoing regional conflict.

While the Israeli government has not officially claimed responsibility for the strike, such attacks are consistent with Israel’s policy of targeting individuals it deems a threat, particularly those linked to Hezbollah and other militant groups in Lebanon. This incident comes amid escalating tensions in the region, as Israel continues its efforts to curtail the influence of Iranian-backed factions operating in Lebanon and Syria.

The Al-Jama’a al-Islamiyya has yet to comment on Atwi’s death, but the group’s leadership is expected to respond in due course, potentially intensifying the already volatile situation along Lebanon's southern border.

Earlier, on April 21, an Israeli airstrike in Gaza has resulted in the death of Ahmad Mansour, a terrorist involved in the October 7, 2023, invasion, the Israeli military confirmed.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that over the past three days, they have carried out hundreds of strikes on targets within the Palestinian enclave. While the IDF did not disclose the precise timing or location of Mansour's death, it was reported after Palestinian sources stated that 43 individuals had been killed in Israeli airstrikes on April 18. Mansour, a member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad's rocket unit, was among the militants who infiltrated southern Israel during the October 7 attack.

By Vafa Guliyeva