The recent Golan Heights disaster, which killed twelve children and teenagers, was purportedly triggered by a Hezbollah leader who was the target of an Israeli military airstrike in Beirut. Following the strike, a plume of smoke was observed rising, and a thunderous explosion rang out over Beirut's southern suburbs, a known Hezbollah stronghold. According to a Hezbollah source, two persons were killed, and additional structures were destroyed.
Media reports identified the targeted Hezbollah commander as Fuad Shukr, although his exact fate remains unclear. Shukr may have been killed in the strike, according to Israeli sources, despite reports from Al-Hadath that he had survived. Head of the operations room for Hezbollah and a major military advisor to leader Hassan Nasrallah, Shukr was a longstanding member of the U.S.-designated terrorist organization and was wanted for $5 million.
The Lebanese state news agency said that the Israeli hit occurred near Hezbollah's Shura Council in the Haret Hreik area of Beirut. The US and Israel considered Hezbollah responsible for the earlier missile strike that preceded this one, which was directed towards the Druze settlement of Majdal Shams in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Hezbollah denied any involvement.
Following the rocket assault, the Israeli military struck Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon with artillery fire and warplanes. The Israel-Hamas scenario in Gaza has US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin worried about the possibility of increasing violence and a wider regional confrontation. He emphasized the significance of handling the matter diplomatically.
Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, strongly warned that his nation would not stand for the horrible events that took place in the Golan Heights. In an attempt to highlight the significance of the problem for the country, Netanyahu reiterated Israel's charge that Hezbollah was at fault and vowed a forceful reaction.
