In a significant escalation of violence, an Israeli airstrike in Beirut on Tuesday claimed the life of Ibrahim Qubaisi, the commander of Hezbollah’s missile division. The strike occurred in the Dahiyeh suburb and was part of a broader exchange of fire between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group, which launched over 300 rockets into northern Israel.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed Qubaisi’s death, identifying him as a pivotal figure in Hezbollah’s missile operations for decades. Alongside Qubaisi, the IDF reported the elimination of at least two other high-ranking Hezbollah commanders involved in missile strategies that increasingly threaten Israeli security.
In response to the airstrike, Hezbollah acknowledged Qubaisi’s death, referring to him as a martyr “on the road to Jerusalem,” a phrase used to honor fighters killed by Israeli forces. A veteran of the organization, Qubaisi had been with Hezbollah since the 1980s, holding various leadership roles within the group’s missile and rocket units, including the precision-guided missile program.
Qubaisi was instrumental in the infamous 2000 Mount Dov operation, which involved the abduction of three Israeli soldiers, later found dead and returned in a 2004 prisoner exchange. His role in that operation solidified his reputation within Hezbollah’s military hierarchy.
Also read: Kangana Ranaut apologizes after remarks on farm laws
The airstrike resulted in additional casualties, with the Lebanese Health Ministry reporting six civilian deaths and 15 injuries from the attack. This incident is part of an ongoing escalation that has claimed hundreds of lives in Lebanon, primarily due to Israeli airstrikes.
The recent exchange of missiles follows a surge in tensions between Israel and Hezbollah since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023. There are rising fears that this conflict may escalate into a wider war, potentially involving Iran-backed groups from Yemen and Iraq.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concerns that Lebanon is on the verge of disaster, while U.S. President Joe Biden urged both parties to exercise restraint to prevent further escalation. In a defiant stance, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to persist in targeting Hezbollah’s military assets, asserting that any location harboring missiles would be destroyed.
