Israel claims killing Hezbollah's top intel commander in Beirut

JERUSALEM

The Israeli army on Saturday claimed killing Hezbollah's top intelligence commander in an airstrike in the southern suburb of Beirut.

In a statement, the army said its air force targeted Hassan Khalil Yassin, who was responsible for Hezbollah's intelligence unit.

“Yassin stood at the head of a department responsible for the identification of civilian and military targets, on the northern border and deep within Israeli territory,” the readout said.

Hezbollah and Israel have been engaged in cross-border warfare since the start of Israel's onslaught on the Gaza Strip, which has killed nearly 41,600 victims, mostly women and children, following a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023.

Israel recently began large-scale airstrikes in Lebanon, killing hundreds of civilians, displacing thousands, and also assassinating Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Friday.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala