Lebanon’s armed group Hezbollah has finally confirmed the death of one of its top military commanders in an Israeli attack on Beirut, as his body has been recovered from rubble.
Hezbollah previously refused to confirm Israel’s claim that it had killed Fuad Shukr, described as ‘the right-hand man’ of their leader Hassan Nasrallah, on Tuesday night.
Hezbollah had earlier on Wednesday released a long-awaited statement on Shukr, saying Israel had attacked a residential building in the southern suburbs of Beirut, a stronghold for the group, and that “a number of citizens” had been killed and others wounded.
Image: Benjamin Netanyahu said Shukr was ‘one of the most wanted terrorists in the world’. Pic: Reuters
The Israeli leader, who cut his US visit short last week following news of the attack in Golan Heights, added: “He was a key factor in the connection between Iran and Hezbollah.”
Speaking during a news conference in Tel Aviv, Mr Netanyahu said when it comes to threats against Israel, the country is prepared for any scenario.
“Israel will make anyone who is against us pay a very heavy price,” he said, before claiming he “will not give in” to voices calling for the end to the war in Gaza.
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Sky’s Alex Crawford reports from the site of an Israeli strike in Beirut, as Lebanese emergency workers worked to clear the rubble.
Shukr is the most senior Hezbollah commander to have been killed in the latest clashes between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group in Lebanon.
In a further development which raises concerns of an all-out war in the region, Hamas’ leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in the Iranian capital Tehran early on Wednesday morning, an attack that drew threats of revenge on Israel.
Although the attack was widely assumed to have been carried out by Israel, Mr Netanyahu’s government made no claim of responsibility and said it would make no comment on the killing.
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Haniyeh had been the face of Hamas’ international diplomacy as it fought Israel’s offensive in the besieged and densely populated enclave of Gaza.
He had been taking part in indirect talks to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza, where, according to local health officials, more than 39,400 people have been killed in the nearly 10 months of war.
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