Israel Takes Out Another Senior Hezbollah Leader Following the Elimination of Nasrallah
The IDF has taken out most of Hezbollah’s senior leadership, according to the military.
Israel took out another senior Hezbollah member on Sept. 29—days after killing the terrorist group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah—the country’s military announced.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out a strike in the Lebanese capital of Beirut that killed Nabil Qaouk, the commander of Hezbollah’s Preventative Security Unit and a member of its executive council, which is in charge of the organization’s economic and social operations.
“He joined Hezbollah in the 1980s and was regarded as an important source of expertise in his field, having served as the deputy commander of the southern region on the Operational Council, commander of the southern region and deputy commander of the Operational Council,” the IDF stated.
Additionally, “he delivered speeches on behalf of Hezbollah at several ceremonies commemorating deceased Hezbollah terrorists,” the Treasury stated.
The strike that took out Qaouk was followed by another one in Beirut, according to the military, which did not immediately release details.
Qaouk’s death comes two days after the IDF took out Nasrallah in a strike on Hezbollah’s central headquarters in suburban Beirut.
Biden noted that “the strike that killed Nasrallah took place in the broader context of the conflict that began with Hamas’s massacre on October 7, 2023. Nasrallah, the next day, made the fateful decision to join hands with Hamas and open what he called a ‘northern front’ against Israel.”
The strike that eliminated Nasrallah also resulted in the death of Ali Karaki, the commander of Hezbollah’s Southern Front. Twenty other Hezbollah officials were also killed, according to the IDF.
“I think having decimated the command structure of Hezbollah certainly works to the Israeli’s advantage,” said White House National Security communications adviser John Kirby on ABC’s “This Week.”
“It’s actually good for the region, good for the world,” he said.
Kirby reiterated the Biden administration’s calls for de-escalation between Israel and Hezbollah.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.