Factbox: Leaders of Hezbollah and Hamas Who Have Been Assassinated – Reuters

By Jana Choukeir

DUBAI (Reuters) – Hezbollah, an Iranian-aligned group, has accused Israel of using pagers to carry out detonations throughout Lebanon. This complex operation occurred amid a series of assassinations targeting Israel’s opponents in the wake of the Gaza war that began on October 7.

The following is a summary of operations attributed to Israel against leaders and commanders of Hezbollah and Hamas:

HEZBOLLAH

FUAD SHUKR
An Israeli operation in the southern suburbs of Beirut on July 30 resulted in the death of Fuad Shukr, a prominent Hezbollah commander and the deputy to Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. Shukr had been a significant military figure in Hezbollah, which was established over forty years ago with the support of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. The U.S. sanctioned Shukr in 2015, linking him to the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut that claimed the lives of 241 American servicemen.

MOHAMMED NASSER
In an airstrike on July 3, Mohammed Nasser, a senior commander responsible for operations from southwestern Lebanon, was killed. Israel took responsibility for the strike, asserting that Nasser was in charge of a unit that engaged in firing at Israeli targets.

TALEB ABDALLAH
Taleb Abdallah, a senior Hezbollah commander in charge of operations along the southern border, was killed on June 12 during a strike claimed by Israel, which specified that it targeted a command and control center. His death prompted Hezbollah to retaliate with a significant missile barrage toward Israel.

HAMAS

MOHAMMED DEIF
On July 13, Israeli military operations in the Khan Younis area of Gaza reportedly resulted in the death of Mohammed Deif, who had survived multiple assassination attempts. Deif is believed to have been a key figure behind Hamas’ attack on southern Israel on October 7, which initiated the current conflict. Hamas has not confirmed his death.

ISMAIL HANIYEH
Ismail Haniyeh was reportedly assassinated in an attack on July 31 that struck a guesthouse in Iran, according to Hamas. While Haniyeh was killed by a direct missile strike, Israel has not acknowledged involvement in the incident.

SALEH AL-AROURI
On January 2, 2024, an Israeli drone strike targeted Saleh al-Arouri, the Deputy Hamas leader, in Beirut’s Dahiyeh district. Al-Arouri was recognized as one of the founders of Hamas’ military branch, the Qassam Brigades.