Factbox: Key Leaders of Hezbollah and Hamas Who Have Been Assassinated

By Jana Choukeir

(Reuters) – Israel conducted an airstrike on the southern suburbs of Beirut on Friday, resulting in the death of a senior Hezbollah commander, according to the Israeli military and security sources in Lebanon. This incident marks an escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed group that has persisted for over a year.

Below is a summary of operations attributed to Israel targeting Hezbollah and Hamas leaders:

HEZBOLLAH

IBRAHIM AQIL
An airstrike in Beirut’s southern suburbs on September 20 resulted in the death of Hezbollah’s operations commander, Ibrahim Aqil, who was a member of the group’s high-ranking military body. Aqil, also known by the aliases Tahsin and Abdelqader, has been implicated by the United States in the 1983 Beirut truck bombings that killed 63 people, as well as the bombing of a U.S. Marine barracks in October 1983, which claimed the lives of 241 service members.

FUAD SHUKR
On July 30, an Israeli strike in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital killed Fuad Shukr, who was identified by the Israeli military as a close aide to Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. Shukr has been a key military figure in Hezbollah since its founding over forty years ago. In 2015, the United States sanctioned Shukr, accusing him of having a central role in the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut.

MOHAMMED NASSER
Mohammed Nasser was killed on July 3 in an Israeli airstrike, which was confirmed by Israel, stating that he led a unit responsible for attacks originating from southwestern Lebanon. Nasser was a senior commander involved in Hezbollah’s operations near the border.

TALEB ABDALLAH
On June 12, Abdallah, a senior field commander for Hezbollah, was killed in a strike attributed to Israel, which targeted a command and control center in southern Lebanon. Sources indicated that he was in charge of Hezbollah’s operations in the central region along the southern border. His death led to a significant retaliatory rocket barrage from Hezbollah into Israel.

HAMAS

MOHAMMED DEIF
On July 13, Israel’s military claimed to have killed Mohammed Deif in airstrikes in Khan Younis, Gaza, following an intelligence assessment. Deif, known for surviving multiple assassination attempts, is believed to have played a key role in Hamas’ attacks on southern Israel on October 7, which initiated the recent conflict. Hamas has not confirmed his death.

ISMAIL HANIYEH
According to Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated on July 31 in Iran by a missile strike at a state guesthouse. Israel has not taken responsibility for this operation.

SALEH AL-AROURI
On January 2, 2024, an Israeli drone strike in the Dahiyeh area of Beirut’s southern suburbs killed Saleh al-Arouri, the Deputy Hamas chief and founder of the group’s military wing, the Qassam Brigades.