Ibrahim Qubaisi, Hezbollah’s commander in charge of its rockets and missile forces was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have confirmed the death of the head of their missile division, stating that Qubaisi had been a central figure in Hezbollah’s missile capabilities for decades.
“Qabisi was struck alongside additional central commanders of Hezbollah’s missiles and rockets force,” the military said in a statement. They further said that Qabisi had joined Hezbollah in the 1980s and had held several significant military roles within the organisation.
Qubaisi played a key role in Hezbollah 2000 Mount Dov operation, which involved the abduction of three Israeli soldiers. The soldiers were later found dead, and their bodies were returned in a 2004 prisoner exchange. His involvement in that high-profile attack cemented his status within Hezbollah’s military wing.
The airstrike followed an intense cross-border firing between Israel and Hezbollah as the Iran-backed militant group fired over 300 rockets toward Israel. Israeli air raid sirens were triggered across the Galilee region.
Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have been escalating for the past 11 months. Hezbollah has fired rockets, missiles, and drones into northern Israel in support of Palestinians in Gaza and its ally, Hamas. In response, Israel has conducted heavy airstrikes and targeted killings of Hezbollah commanders, threatening a broader operation.
Last week, a series of attacks in Beirut involved explosions from pagers and walkie-talkies. About 50 people were killed, and around 3,500 were injured. A recent two-day bombing campaign by Israel resulted in over 560 deaths in Lebanon, forcing thousands in the south to flee the escalating conflict.
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