(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — The fate of Hezbollah’s second-in-command, known as “Fouad Shukr” or “Haj Mohsen,” remains unknown several hours after an Israeli military strike aimed to assassinate him in the Haret Hreik area of the Dahiyeh neighborhood in southern Beirut.
Lebanese media reported that Israeli fighter jets dropped several bombs on a building in Haret Hreik, Dahiyeh, in southern Beirut, allegedly inhabited by Fouad Shukr.
The Haret Hreik area is considered a Hezbollah stronghold, housing several buildings purportedly occupied by leaders of the Lebanese armed group.
So far, only Israel has claimed that its airstrike successfully killed Hezbollah’s number two leader. However, this claim has been denied by both local and international media outlets.
“Israeli fighter jets have eliminated the senior military commander of the armed group and head of its strategic unit, Fouad Shukr, in Beirut,” said Israeli military spokesperson Admiral Daniel Hagari.
“Fouad Shukr was responsible for the incident in Majdal Shams, which resulted in the deaths of 12 children after Hezbollah launched Falaq-1 rockets at a football field in northern Israel.” Hagari added that Fouad Shukr was a close aide to Hassan Nasrallah.
Nonetheless, reports from local and international media, citing Lebanese security sources, suggest that Israel’s attempt to kill Fouad Shukr failed as the Hezbollah leader managed to leave the building before it was bombed.
Other reports indicate that Shukr was not present in the targeted building at the time of the airstrike.
Some Israeli media also reported that the airstrike aimed at killing Fouad Shukr was unsuccessful.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati strongly condemned the Israeli airstrike but did not confirm or deny the current status of Hezbollah’s number two leader.
Hezbollah has yet to issue an official statement regarding Fouad Shukr’s condition, whether he is alive or was a victim of the Israeli airstrike.
However, the armed group released a video with a message indicating that it would respond “at an appropriate time and place” to the Israeli airstrike in the Dahiyeh neighborhood of southern Beirut.
Fouad Shukr is reported to be the second-in-command within the armed group, following Hassan Nasrallah, and is its top military leader.
He took over Hezbollah’s military wing after the assassination of its commander, Imad Mughniyeh, several years ago.
Mughniyeh was killed in a car bomb attack in Damascus in 2008, allegedly carried out by Israel. Shukr is said to be the military strategist behind all Hezbollah operations in southern Lebanon.
The United States has also offered a cash reward of $5 million for information on Fouad Shukr, alleging that the Hezbollah leader played a significant role in the bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut, which killed 241 American Marines. — DSA