Israel strikes Beirut, targeting Hezbollah commander

Israel claims it carried out an attack in the Lebanese capital—Beirut—targeting the Hezbollah commander blamed for the attack on the Golan Heights.

"We conducted a targeted airstrike on the Lebanese capital, Beirut, aimed at the Hezbollah commander responsible for Saturday's deadly attack on the Golan Heights and other strikes on Israel," the Israeli army announced on Tuesday.

According to many reports, the target of the attack was Fuad Shukr, also known as Hajji Mohsin, a senior advisor to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, as reported by the Times of Israel. The Israeli army announced a few years ago that he is the head of Hezbollah's precision missile development program. We also want him for his involvement in the 1983 bombing of the US Marine barracks in Beirut.

Shortly after the attack, Reuters and AFP, citing sources close to Hezbollah, reported that high-ranking Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr survived. According to AFP, two people were killed in the airstrike, while Reuters reports one fatality and seven injuries.

Shortly after the statement was published on the Israeli army's social media, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant wrote a brief statement: "Hezbollah crossed the red line."

Earlier, Reuters reported loud explosions and plumes of smoke over the southern district of Beirut, which is a Hezbollah stronghold. Videos from the attack site also appeared online.

In Lebanon, retaliation from Israel against Hezbollah for the Saturday attack on the Golan Heights had been expected for several days. Twelve Druze children and teenagers were killed in that attack.

On the day of the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a conversation with the Druze community leader, announced that Hezbollah would pay a high price for these actions, a price they had not paid before.