The strike, described as a serious breach of the fragile ceasefire, has raised tensions in the region, with Lebanese authorities reporting civilian casualties and warning of further escalation.
Israeli warplanes conducted an airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburbs on Wednesday night, the first such attack on the Lebanese capital in weeks, killing a senior Hezbollah commander and raising fears of renewed escalation along the Israel-Lebanon border.
Lebanese officials and security sources said the strike targeted the Haret Hreik area in Dahieh, a Hezbollah stronghold, triggering rescue operations amid scenes of destruction, overturned vehicles and crowds gathering at the rubble.
Malek Ballout, Hezbollah commander, killed in strike:
A source close to Hezbollah confirmed the death of Malek Ballout (also reported as Malek Balou), described as an operations commander in the group’s elite Radwan Force. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the military had successfully targeted a senior Hezbollah figure.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported multiple casualties from the strike, with rescue teams and civil defence workers searching through the debris late into the night. Images from the scene showed heavy machinery clearing rubble as emergency vehicles lit up the devastated area.
Ceasefire under strain:
The strike comes amid a fragile US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that has been repeatedly tested since late 2024. Both sides have accused each other of violations, with Israel claiming the action was necessary to prevent Hezbollah from rearming and rebuilding its military capabilities.
Hezbollah has condemned the attack as a “treacherous aggression” and vowed to respond at the appropriate time and place, while Lebanese officials called on the international community to pressure Israel to respect the truce.
Ceasefire at Risk Amid Rising Israel-Hezbollah Tensions:
The latest violence risks derailing ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at stabilising the Lebanon-Israel border and implementing the full terms of the ceasefire agreement. The United Nations and several countries have expressed concern over the repeated breaches that continue to threaten civilian lives on both sides of the border.
This incident marks yet another chapter in the long-running shadow war between Israel and Hezbollah, which escalated dramatically following the events of October 2023. The group, backed by Iran, remains a powerful political and military actor in Lebanon despite suffering significant losses in leadership and infrastructure over the past two years.
As rescue operations continue in Beirut and tensions rise, the coming hours may prove critical in determining whether the fragile calm holds or gives way to a new cycle of retaliatory violence.