The Israeli military announced on Sunday that it killed Nabil Kaouk, a high-ranking commander in Hezbollah, during an airstrike in Lebanon. His killing is a significant blow to the Lebanese group following the death of Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut on Friday.
Who Was Kaouk?
Kaouk, who served as the deputy head of Hezbollah’s Central Council, was a prominent figure within the outfit and had been a member since the 1980s. He was known for his role as Hezbollah’s military commander during the 2006 war with Israel and had frequently appeared in the media to discuss political and security issues.
He was sanctioned by the United States in 2020 for his involvement in Hezbollah’s military operations. The Israeli military described Kaouk as a key player in ongoing conflicts and noted that he was seen as a potential successor to Nasrallah.
ELIMINATED: The Commander of Hezbollah’s Preventative Security Unit and a member of their Executive Council, Nabil Qaouk, was eliminated in a precise IDF strike.Qaouk was close to Hezbollah’s senior commanders and was directly engaged in terrorist attacks against the State of… pic.twitter.com/dcvKLRkMbf
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) September 29, 2024
‘IDF will continue to eliminate commanders’
“The IDF will continue to strike and eliminate the commanders within the Hezbollah terrorist organization and will act against anyone who threatens the citizens of the State of Israel,” the IDF said in a post announcing Kaouk’s death.
Hezbollah has not yet confirmed Kaouk’s death, but supporters have begun sharing messages of mourning. The Israeli airstrike is part of a broader campaign targeting senior Hezbollah leaders and infrastructure, which has intensified recently. In addition to airstrikes, Israel has reportedly conducted sophisticated attacks on Hezbollah’s communication systems.
The conflict has resulted in significant casualties, with over 1,030 people reported dead in Lebanon since the escalation began. This includes many civilians, such as women and children. Despite the heavy bombardment, Hezbollah continues to launch rockets into northern Israel, although most have been intercepted or have landed in uninhabited areas.
The situation remains tense as both sides prepare for potential further escalation. Israel aims to restore security for its citizens in northern communities while Hezbollah insists it will continue its operations until there is a cease-fire in Gaza. The ongoing violence raises fears of a broader regional conflict involving Iran-backed groups like Hezbollah and Hamas.
(With agency inputs)
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