Sep 23, 2024 - World

Israel targets Hezbollah's southern front commander in Beirut strike

Barak Ravid

People gather at the scene of an Israeli strike that targeted Beirut's southern suburbs a day earlier, as search and rescue operations continue on September 21, 2024. — People gather on Sept. 21, 2024 at the scene of an Israeli strike that targeted Beirut's southern suburbs a day earlier. Israeli officials said another Israeli airstrike on Sept. 23 targeted Hezbollah's southern front commander. Photo: -/AFP via Getty Images

Israel Defense Forces conducted an airstrike in Beirut on Monday targeting Hezbollah's southern front commander Ali Karaki, two Israeli officials said. Hezbollah later said he was not killed.

Why it matters: Karaki is the most senior Hezbollah military commander after Israel assassinated Fuad Shukr in July and the group's head of military operations, Ibrahim Aqil, was killed on Friday in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut.

A Lebanese official told Sky News Arabia that Karaki was killed in the strike.
Israeli officials said they didn't know if he was killed or not.
But Hezbollah later said in a statement that the assassination attempt against Karaki failed and that he was transferred to a safe place. Karaki leads Hezbollah's fighting in the area south of the Litani river and to Lebanon's border with Israel.

What they're saying: In a video statement on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed Lebanese civilians, saying "Israel's war is not with you. It's with Hezbollah." He called on civilians to heed Israel Defense Forces warnings and evacuate areas.

Editor's note: This story was updated to reflect that Hezbollah said Karaki was not killed in the Israeli airstrike.

Add Axios on Google

Israel targets Hezbollah's southern front commander in Beirut strike

What to read next