Israel has killed multiple Hezbollah leaders. Here’s who they were – and the key players that remain
Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have killed at least seven high-ranking Hezbollah commanders and officials in recent weeks, including the militant group’s chief Hassan Nasrallah, who was assassinated in a strike on his underground headquarters in Beirut on Friday.
The strikes have dealt the most significant blow to the Iran-backed militant group since its formation in the early 1980s.
Hezbollah has said it will choose a new chief soon. Meanwhile, Israel launched a ground offensive in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, marking the “next phase” of its war with Hezbollah.
As Hezbollah seeks to recuperate from the carnage and vows to continue fighting Israel, here’s a look at some of the group’s leaders who have been killed – and who remains.
Israel has killed several of Hezbollah’s top leaders in rapid succession
Here’s who they were and when they were killed
June 30, 2024
Fu’ad Shukr
As Hezbollah’s most senior military official and member of the jihad council, Shukr was considered Nasrallah’s right-hand man. Prior to his death, the US government had put out a $5 million reward for information about him and his whereabouts. He was killed in a drone strike in Beirut’s southern suburbs.
September 20, 2024
Ibrahim Aqil
Aqil was the top commander and founder of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force. He had a $7 million bounty on his head from the US for suspected involvement in the 1983 strike on the US Embassy in Beirut and the bombing of the city’s Marine barracks. He was assassinated with several other commanders at a residential building in Beirut’s southern Dahiyeh neighborhood.
Ahmad Wehbe
Wehbe was the senior commander of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force. He was killed alongside Aqil in Beirut’s Dahiyeh district.
September 25, 2024
Ibrahim Kobeissi
Kobeissi led Hezbollah’s missile unit. He was killed by an airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburbs.
September 26, 2024
Mohammad Surour
Surour was the head of Hezbollah’s newly established drone unit and oversaw the group’s drone and cruise missile attacks on Israel from Lebanon. He was killed in strike on Beirut.
September 27, 2024
Hassan Nasrallah
Hassan Nasrallah gives a televised address on September 19, 2024, in this screenshot taken from a video. Al-Manar TV/ReutersNasrallah became Hezbollah’s leader in 1992 after his predecessor Abbas Musawi was killed by an Israeli helicopter strike. He oversaw the party’s transformation into a powerful political force in Lebanon during his tenure. He was killed by an Israeli airstrike on the group’s underground headquarters in southern Beirut, where 20 Hezbollah members were also present.
September 29, 2024
Nabil Qaouk
Qaouk served as Commander of Hezbollah’s Preventive Security Unit and as a member of Hezbollah’s central council. He was designated a global terrorist by the US in October 2020 and sanctioned. He was killed in an Israeli raid of outer Beirut’s Chyah area.
Here is who remains in Hezbollah’s leadership
Naim Qassim
Qassim is Hezbollah’s deputy secretary general and is currently the group’s highest-ranking official.
Hashem Safieddine
As head of Hezbollah’s executive council, Safieddine is a likely heir to Nasrallah.
Ibrahim Amin Al-Sayyed
Al-Sayyed is head of the group’s political council.
Mohammed Raad
Raad is the head of Hezbollah’s bloc in the Leebanese parliament. – CNN News
What I find amazing is that Israeli Intelligence knows the location of all of these people at any given time and is able to coordinate airstrikes to kill them. They were killed in apartments and underground facilities in Beirut Lebanon.
But Israeli Intelligence had no idea that Hamas was planning, preparing equipment, training dozens of personnel, massing those forces on the border and launching an attack from a small piece of land located on the other side of a fence that marks the border between Israel and Gaza. An attack from Gaza? No idea. Complete surprise. Caught with their pants down. And people actually believe this?
As Hezbollah’s most senior military official and member of the jihad council, Shukr was considered Nasrallah’s right-hand man. Prior to his death, the US government had put out a $5 million reward for information about him and his whereabouts. He was killed in a drone strike in Beirut’s southern suburbs.
Aqil was the top commander and founder of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force. He had a $7 million bounty on his head from the US for suspected involvement in the 1983 strike on the US Embassy in Beirut and the bombing of the city’s Marine barracks. He was assassinated with several other commanders at a residential building in Beirut’s southern Dahiyeh neighborhood.
Hassan Nasrallah gives a televised address on September 19, 2024, in this screenshot taken from a video. Al-Manar TV/ReutersNasrallah became Hezbollah’s leader in 1992 after his predecessor Abbas Musawi was killed by an Israeli helicopter strike. He oversaw the party’s transformation into a powerful political force in Lebanon during his tenure. He was killed by an Israeli airstrike on the group’s underground headquarters in southern Beirut, where 20 Hezbollah members were also present.
Qaouk served as Commander of Hezbollah’s Preventive Security Unit and as a member of Hezbollah’s central council. He was designated a global terrorist by the US in October 2020 and sanctioned. He was killed in an Israeli raid of outer Beirut’s Chyah area.