With targeted airstrikes, Israel has eliminated most of the top Hezbollah leaders in the last year ever since it launched its military operations against Hamas following the October 7 attack in Gaza Enclave. The Israel-Hezbollah tensions escalated during the Gaza war as the Lebanon-based group continued to fire rockets to northern Israel, forcing thousands of Israelites to flee the region. Since then, both sides have been engaged in exchanging strikes, almost daily.
Over 10 top Hezbollah commanders were killed in the recent Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon. However, Hezbollah has not confirmed all the 'targets' eliminated by Israel as it claims.
The latest Israeli airstrike in Beirut killed Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, along with several top commanders. Israel claimed to have killed at least 20 Hezbollah leaders in the airstrike.
Top Hezbollah leaders killed in Israeli airstrike
Hassan Nasrallah
Israel’s targeted airstrike on Friday at the Hezbollah headquarters in Beirut killed its chief Nasrallah, along with 19 others. Nasrallah’s death is considered a major breakthrough in Israel’s ongoing efforts to eliminate the top leaders of the militant group.
Nabil Qaouk
The deputy head of Hezbollah’s Central Council was killed on Saturday in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut. He was the group's military commander in southern Lebanon from 1995 to 2010. He was sanctioned by the US Treasury Department in 2020.
Qaouk joined the militant group as a teenager and went on to fill a series of military command positions. Of late, he took more political roles and was a frequent traveller to Iran.
Ali Karaki
Karaki was a member of Hezbollah's Jihad Council and the commander of the organisation's southern front. He died along with Nasrallah in the IDF strike on Beirut. He had joined Hezbollah during the Lebanese Civil War. Karaki was sanctioned by the US in September 2019. Karaki was entrusted with the responsibility of military operations along the Israel border.
Ibrahim Aquil
Ibrahim Aquil is the second founder member of Hezbollah’s military wing. Aquil, who was in his early 60s, was the acting commander of the Radwan [special forces] brigades.
Fuad Shukr
Fuad Shukr was the head of the organisation’s Strategic Unit. Shukr was the key figure involved in the massive suicide bombings launched against the US, French and Israeli targets in 1983. He played a significant role in developing Hezbollah’s military capabilities as well. He died in July.
Ibrahim Jazini
Jazini was responsible for the internal security within Hezbollah. He was close to Nasrallah and was a trusted associate.
Among the other Hezbollah leaders killed in the Israeli airstrikes are Ibrahim Muhammad Qabisi, the head of the Missiles and Rockets Force; Wissam al-Tawail, Commander of Radwan Force; Abu Hassan Samir, head of Radwan Force’s training unit and former commander of the Radwan Force; Mohammed Nasser, commander of ‘Aziz’ Unit; Muhammad Hussein Srour, commander of Aerial Command; and Sami Taleb Abdullah, commander of ‘Nasser’ Unit.