BEIRUT: Hezbollah said it fired over 100 rockets at Israeli positions on Wednesday in retaliation for a strike that killed a senior commander of the group in Lebanon, the movement’s second such loss in recent weeks.
The targeted commander, identified as Mohammed Naameh Nasser, also known as “Hajj Abu Naameh”, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a car in Tyre, Lebanon, according to sources close to Hezbollah. This marks the second significant loss for Hezbollah in recent weeks, following the killing of another commander last month.
Israel confirmed the operation, stating that Nasser was the commander of Hezbollah’s Aziz Unit responsible for launching attacks from southwestern Lebanon into Israeli territory.
In response to Nasser’s killing, Hezbollah launched a retaliatory attack with more than 100 Katyusha rockets targeting Israeli positions in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. Furthermore, Hezbollah claimed to have launched “Falaq rockets” at an Israeli base in northern Israel.
The Israeli military reported approximately 100 rocket launches from Lebanon towards Israeli territory, with no immediate reports of casualties on either side.
Tensions between Hezbollah and Israel have been escalating since Hamas’s attack on southern Israel on October 7 triggered a conflict in Gaza. Daily cross-border skirmishes have intensified, raising fears of a broader conflict.
The death of Nasser follows a pattern of heightened hostilities, particularly since the killing of another senior Hezbollah commander last month. Following that incident, Hezbollah increased attacks on Israeli targets, leading to a surge in cross-border exchanges.
French President Emmanuel Macron urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to prevent further escalation. He expressed concerns over the potential for a wider regional conflict.
US envoy Amos Hochstein, scheduled to meet with French officials in Paris, has been actively involved in diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions, particularly through engagements with Lebanese and Israeli authorities.
