Hezbollah claims top commander killed in Israeli airstrike as IDF eliminates Hamas official in Syria
Wissam al-Tawil was top Hezbollah official responsible for training militants
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Iran-backed terrorist group Hezbollah said Monday that one of its top commanders has died in an airstrike in Lebanon, while the Israel Defense Forces announced the killing of a "central figure" of Hamas in Syria.
The strike on Wissam al-Tawil – who led Hezbollah's Radwan forces -- was carried out by the Israeli military, the Jerusalem Post is reporting, citing Hezbollah and other media outlets. The Lebanon-based terror group later confirmed his death on Telegram.
Later in the day, the IDF said it "eliminated Hassan Hakashah in Beit Jinn in Syria."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"He was a central figure responsible for rockets fired by Hamas from Syrian territory toward Israel in recent weeks. Since the beginning of the war, Hakashah directed Hamas terrorist cells which fired rockets from Syria toward Israeli territory," the IDF said in a statement. "We will not allow terrorism from Syrian territory and hold Syria responsible for all activity emanating from its territory."
This picture released by Hezbollah Military Media, shows senior Hezbollah commander Wissam al-Tawil. (Hezbollah Military Media/AP)
In Lebanon, Al-Tawil was traveling in a car with another Hezbollah member in the village of Majdal Selm when he was struck, security sources told Reuters.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"This is a very painful strike," one of the sources said, while another added that "things will flare up now."
Ongoing cross-border skirmishes between Israel’s military and Hezbollah has left more than 130 of the terrorist group’s fighters dead since Hamas launched its war against Israel on Oct. 7, the news agency reported.
Last week, Hezbollah-linked news outlets reported that deputy Hamas leader Saleh Arouri was killed by an Israeli airstrike.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Al-Mayadeen, a publication linked to Hezbollah, reported that the high-ranking Hamas official was killed in the Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh on Tuesday.
Fighters from the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah carry out a training exercise in Aaramta village in southern Lebanon in May 2023. (AP/Hassan Ammar)
Israeli officials have denied involvement in the strike, but noted the "surgical" precision of the attack.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Israel has not taken responsibility for this attack. But whoever did it must be clear that this was not an attack on the Lebanese state," Mark Regev, a senior adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told MSNBC in the wake of that strike.
Arouri is among the founders of Hamas' military wing and has overseen the terrorist group's operations in the West Bank.
Days later, Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said Lebanon would be "exposed" to Israeli attacks if his terrorist group does not respond to Arouri's death.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Al-Taweel was responsible for training Hezbollah fighters, who are seen here in May 2023 in southern Lebanon. (AP/Hassan Ammar)
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In a televised address, Nasrallah said that Hezbollah "cannot be silent about a violation of this level."
Fox News’ Yonat Friling, Timothy H.J. Nerozzi and Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report.