Factbox: Which Hezbollah and Hamas Leaders Have Been Assassinated?

By Jana Choukeir

Amid ongoing conflicts with its long-standing adversaries, Israel has successfully identified and eliminated key leaders and commanders of Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza.

Here is a summary of notable operations targeting senior figures from Hezbollah and Hamas that have been attributed to Israel.

HEZBOLLAH

HASSAN NASRALLAH
Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah was confirmed dead after an Israeli airstrike targeted him in Beirut. His death represents a significant setback for Hezbollah, particularly in light of the intensified Israeli military campaigns against the group. Additionally, it poses a serious challenge for Iran, given his prominent role in the regional "Axis of Resistance."

IBRAHIM QUBAISI
On September 24, an airstrike in the southern suburbs of Beirut resulted in the death of Qubaisi, a commander in Hezbollah’s rocket division, according to security sources.

IBRAHIM AQIL
Ibrahim Aqil, a senior operations commander for Hezbollah, was killed on September 20 in the same region of Beirut. He was known by several aliases and was a member of Hezbollah’s top military body, the Jihad Council. The U.S. previously linked him to the deadly truck bombings in Beirut in 1983.

AHMED WAHBI
Ahmed Wahbi, a high-ranking commander who led military operations for the Radwan special forces, was also killed on September 20 during an Israeli strike targeting several top commanders in the Beirut suburbs.

FUAD SHUKR
An Israeli attack on July 30 took the life of Fuad Shukr, identified as a key commander and a close associate of Nasrallah. Shukr had been a prominent military figure in Hezbollah since its inception over 40 years ago, and was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2015 for his alleged involvement in the 1983 U.S. Marine barracks bombing.

MOHAMMED NASSER
On July 3, Mohammed Nasser was killed in an Israeli airstrike, with Israel holding him responsible for a unit that conducted cross-border fire from southwestern Lebanon.

TALEB ABDALLAH
Senior Hezbollah field commander Taleb Abdallah was killed on June 12 in a strike attributed to Israel, which claimed it targeted a command and control center. His death led to a retaliatory rocket barrage by Hezbollah.

HAMAS

MOHAMMED DEIF
Israeli military sources stated that Mohamed Deif was killed in an airstrike in Khan Younis, Gaza, on July 13. Deif had previously survived multiple attempts on his life and is believed to have been integral to planning Hamas’ major attack in October.

ISMAIL HANIYEH
Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was reported killed on July 31 in Iran, as confirmed by the militant group. He died during a missile strike on a guesthouse where he was staying, although Israel has not taken responsibility for the attack.

SALEH AL-AROURI
On January 2, 2024, an Israeli drone strike in the southern suburbs of Beirut resulted in the death of Saleh al-Arouri, who was Hamas’ deputy chief and a founder of the Qassam Brigades.

These targeted operations signal Israel’s ongoing commitment to disrupt the leadership of groups it considers threats to its national security.