Israeli strike on Dahieh kills Hezbollah's Radwan Force commander
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military struck Beirut's southern suburbs on Wednesday, targeting a top Hezbollah commander.
"The Israeli army has struck in Beirut to target the commander of Hezbollah's Radwan force, in an attempt to neutralize him," a joint statement issued by Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said.
"Radwan operatives, under his command, were responsible for firing at Israeli communities and for attacks on Israeli soldiers," the statement said, without naming the commander. A source close to Hezbollah, however, told AFP that "Malek Ballout, the operations commander in the Radwan force," was killed in the strike. Media reports had also identified the commander as Malek Ballout.
A Lebanese security source told AFP on condition of anonymity that the strike hit an apartment in which Radwan leaders were holding a meeting.
The strike marks the first attack on the area since a truce in the Israel-Hezbollah war went into force on April 17.
An Israeli official told the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation that the attack was coordinated with the United States.
An Israeli source meanwhile told Israel's Channel 14 that Israel would strike anywhere in Lebanon should more assassination chances arise.
7 days
I am devastated.... Malek Ballout was an idol I looked up to and learned so much from. He embodied manhood, masculinity, leadership, and nationalism.
6 days
Further proof that Hezbollah and its community are lousy with mossad informants. Yet another Al-Radwan commander dies in the Beirut suburb where he was hiding in a populated area. Kids are being sacrificed in South Llebanon to please Iran while their commanders hide in a civilian populated area far away from the front line. Just like hassin killed along with his iranian handlers under populated civilian compound. How many innocent civilians died because of his irresponsible behaviour, they will never say.
Oh damn I haven't got anything black to wear....maybe I'll pick something blue and white or red, white and blue. Long live the hizbolla traitors amongst their ranks sharing all this amazing intel!