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Israel says it killed Hezbollah Radwan commander in first Beirut strike since ceasefire
Confirmed
What we know
Israel's military said Thursday it killed Ahmed Ghaleb Balout, a commander in Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force, in Wednesday night's airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs — the first Israeli attack on the Lebanese capital since the April ceasefire, BBC, Reuters, The Hindu and Jerusalem Post reported.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz had announced the strike Wednesday; the IDF on Thursday said Balout directed dozens of attacks on Israeli troops in southern Lebanon and efforts to rebuild Radwan capabilities. The same strike also killed two other senior Hezbollah figures, Israeli media and the IDF said. There was no immediate confirmation from Hezbollah. Fighting has continued south of the Litani even as U.S.-hosted Israel-Lebanon talks remain scheduled for mid-May.
What's confirmed
- BBC/Reuters: Wednesday strike hit Dahiyeh/Beirut southern suburbs — first capital hit since the April 16–17 ceasefire; Netanyahu said he approved targeting a Radwan commander (BBC, Reuters).
- The Hindu/Xinhua: IDF on Thursday confirmed the Radwan commander was killed in the Beirut strike; no immediate Hezbollah confirmation (The Hindu, Xinhua).
- Jerusalem Post: IDF identified Ahmed Ghaleb Balout and said two other senior commanders were killed in the same strike; Netanyahu called him a leader of plans against northern Israel (Jerusalem Post).
- AP: Strike was the first on Beirut's southern suburbs since the U.S.-brokered ceasefire; Israel said it has continued striking Hezbollah sites in the south (AP).
- Reuters: Hostilities in southern Lebanon have not halted despite the capital-area pause until Wednesday's strike (Reuters).
What's still developing
- Hezbollah's formal confirmation or response to Balout's reported death.
- Whether Lebanon presses ahead with Washington talks set for May 14–15.
- Any further capital-area strikes after the first post-ceasefire Beirut hit.
Sources
- BBC — Israel strikes Beirut for first time since Hezbollah ceasefire link
- Reuters — Israel strikes Beirut for the first time since the ceasefire link
- The Hindu — Israel says it killed Hezbollah commander in first strike on Beirut since ceasefire link
- Jerusalem Post — IDF kills Hezbollah Radwan commander in Beirut link
- Xinhua — Israeli army says Hezbollah Radwan Force commander killed in Beirut strike link
- AP — Israel-Hamas war news May 7 (Beirut Radwan strike confirmation) link