Hezbollah leader killed in IDF strikes in Lebanon
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Mohammad Raad, Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc head in Lebanon, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut, as Israel and Hezbollah escalated their confrontation. Raad had served in Lebanon’s parliament as 2000, and in 2019 he was sanctioned by the United States for involvement in terrorism and support to terrorists; his son, a member of hezbollah’s special operations forces, was killed in the fighting that followed the October 7 attacks. Israeli officials said the strikes targeted Hezbollah leadership and strategic targets in Lebanon, with plans to increase military pressure and to evacuate civilians in southern Lebanon. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned both sides for using Lebanon as a battlefield in a proxy conflict. The article also cites a U.S. official’s warning that Hezbollah leverages its parliamentary presence to influence institutions in support of the group’s and iran’s interests.
Hezbollah leader killed in IDF strikes in Lebanon
The head of Hezbollah‘s parliamentary bloc in Lebanon’s government was killed during a military strike conducted by Israeli Defense Forces on Sunday. Mohammad Raad was among ten people killed by airstrikes in Beirut, Lebanon.
Raad was a member of the Lebanese Shia Islamist party and leader of the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc, according to reports. He had served in the position since 2000. In 2019, Raad was one of the members of Lebanon’s parliament sanctioned by the U.S. for his role in terrorist activities and “providing support to terrorists.” His son was a member of Hezbollah’s special operations forces but was killed during the conflict with Israel after the Oct. 7 attacks.
“Hezbollah uses its operatives in Lebanon’s parliament to manipulate institutions in support of the terrorist group’s financial and security interests and to bolster Iran’s malign activities,” Sigal Mandelker, U.S. under-secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said at the time.
Sunday’s IDF strikes were explicitly aimed at Hezbollah strategic targets and leadership in Lebanon after the Iranian-backed paramilitary group took credit for rocket attacks on northern Israel, according to the Times of Israel. Hezbollah’s attack in Israel was in turn a retaliation for Israel’s attack on Iran on Saturday and the death of Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Hezbollah’s retaliatory strikes in northern Israel were the group’s first action against Israel since a ceasefire agreement was signed in November 2024. The IDF claimed other senior Hezbollah leaders were killed in the strikes, according to the Jerusalem Post.
IDF Northern Command chief Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo said Israel would increase its intensity against Hezbollah targets as part of its retaliatory efforts for the strikes in Northern Israel. He explained some of the IDF’s strategy behind Israel’s military response.
“Shortly after Hezbollah’s rocket fire, in accordance with planning, we launched a first wide wave of strikes in Beirut and southern Lebanon, targeting senior operatives, headquarters, and terror infrastructure,” said Milo. “We are also working to evacuate the population in southern Lebanon for its protection ahead of additional strikes.”
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He also said that Hezbollah chose “the Iranian Regime over the State of Lebanon and initiated an attack on our civilians. We were prepared – and they will pay a heavy price.”
Meanwhile, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun blasted Hezbollah and Israel for using their military strikes. He criticized both for using his country as a battlefield in a proxy war.
“While we condemn the Israeli aggression against Lebanon, we warn that persisting in using Lebanon as a platform for proxy wars puts our country in danger,” said Aoun.
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