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An Israeli strike in Beirut’s southern suburbs killed a senior Hezbollah Radwan force commander, the first such attack in nearly a month and since the ceasefire. The strike risks escalating tensions as Israel-Hezbollah clashes persist despite a fragile truce.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the IDF killed Hezbollah's Radwan Force commander in a strike(via REUTERS)A senior Hezbollah commander from the group's elite Radwan force was killed in an Israeli strike on Beirut's southern suburbs on Wednesday evening, AFP reported.
Citing a source, the report said that "Malek Ballout, the operations commander in the Radwan force," was killed. The attack is the first in the area in nearly a month.
Israeli PM on death of Radwan force commander
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that his military targeted "the commander of Hezbollah's Radwan force." In a post on X, he added, "I instructed, together with Defense Minister Israel Katz, to strike now in Beirut the commander of the Radwan Force in the terrorist organization Hezbollah in order to neutralize him. Radwan terrorists are responsible for firing at Israeli settlements and harming IDF soldiers. No terrorist has immunity - Israel's long arm will reach every enemy and murderer. We promised to bring security to the residents of the north - this is how it's done, and this is how it will be done!"
Israel attacks Lebanon
According to Lebanon's state-run National News Agency, Israeli warplanes launched an attack, targeting Ghobeiri in the southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold.
Beirut and its southern suburbs had been spared from Israeli attacks since April 8, after massive strikes across the country resulted in the deaths of over 350 people.
The attack on Hezbollah's Radwan force commander came as US President Donald Trump said that there was "a very good chance" of sealing a peace deal with Iran.
While a truce went into force on April 17, Israel has repeatedly bombed Lebanon, particularly the south, with Hezbollah retaliating by launching attacks on Israeli troops.
According to Reuters, the Israeli attack was the first since Tel Aviv agreed to a ceasefire with Hezbollah last month. As Iran and the United States say they are drawing closer to a deal to halt their conflict, the strikes threaten the ceasefire that halted Israeli attacks on Beirut. Israeli troops have remained in areas south of the Litani River, and strikes continued in southern Lebanon.
Earlier on Wednesday, Tel Aviv called for residents to evacuate several villages north of the Litani River, which could represent an expansion of Israel's zone of action.
Israel-Lebanon talks continue
According to reports, while talks between Israel and Lebanon have continued, they have largely stayed at the ambassador level.
Earlier today, Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said that it was premature to talk of any high-level meeting between Beirut and Tel Aviv and added that shoring up a ceasefire would be the basis for any new negotiations between Lebanese and Israeli government envoys in Washington.
Last month, Washington hosted two meetings between the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors to the US. On April 23, Trump announced a three-week extension of the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, adding that he looked forward to hosting Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in the near future and that he saw "a great chance" that the countries would reach a peace deal this year.
Lebanon drawn into Middle East war
According to reports, Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East war on March 2, two days after the US and Israel launched a war against its backer, Iran. Hezbollah attacked Israel in support of the Islamic Republic.
Since then, Israeli strikes on Lebanon have killed more than 2,700 people, with over a million displaced, particularly from southern and eastern Lebanon and Beirut's southern suburbs.
(with agency inputs)
About the Author
Swati Gandhi
Swati Gandhi is a digital journalist with over four years of experience, specialising in international and geopolitical issues. Her work focuses on foreign policy, global power shifts, and the political and economic forces shaping international relations, with a particular emphasis on how global developments affect India. She approaches journalism with a strong belief in context-driven reporting, aiming to break down complex global events into clear, accessible narratives for a wide readership.<br><br> Previously, Swati has worked at Business Standard, where she covered a range of beats including national affairs, politics, and business. This diverse newsroom experience helped her build a strong grounding in reporting, while also strengthening her ability to work across both breaking news and in-depth explanatory stories. Covering multiple beats early in her career has helped her be informed about her current work, allowing her to connect domestic developments with wider international trends.<br><br> At Live Mint, she focuses on international and geopolitical issues through a business and economic lens, examining how global political developments, foreign policy decisions, and power shifts impact markets, industries, and India’s strategic and economic interests.<br><br> She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English (Honours) from the University of Delhi and a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. Her academic training has shaped her emphasis on precision, analytical rigour, and clarity in writing. Her interests include global political economy and the intersection of geopolitics with business.<br><br> Outside work, Swati focuses on exploring her passion and love for food. From fancy cafes to street spots, Swati explores food like a true foodie.
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