Tel Aviv: The Israeli military said Tuesday it struck the Lebanese capital of Beirut, targeting the militant commander allegedly behind the deaths of 12 children and teens. The strike comes days after a rocket strike from Lebanon killed the 12 youths. Israel blames the Hezbollah militant group, which has denied any role in the attack.
According to sources of news agency Reuters, Israel targetted the head of the armed group Hezbollah's operations room, and added that his fate remained unknown. The sources named him as Muhsin Shukr but said he was also known as Fuad Shukr. Fuad Shukr was sanctioned by the United States in 2015.
VIDEO: Aftermath of Israeli strike on Beirut
(VIDEO CREDIT: REUTERS)
US does not believe war between Hezbollah, Israel is inevitable
Citing local media reports, the news agency said at least one woman was killed at seven were injured. The US does not believe war between Hezbollah and Israel is inevitable, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said on Tuesday, amid reports the Israeli military carried out a targeted strike in Beirut against a Hezbollah commander.
Why has Israel started targeting Lebanon?
The airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburb of Haret Hreik damaged several buildings but it was not immediately clear if any Hezbollah official was targeted, the Hezbollah official said on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.
A rocket attack on a football ground in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights killed 12 people including children on Saturday, Israeli authorities said, blaming Hezbollah and vowing to inflict a heavy price on the Iran-backed Lebanese group. Hezbollah denied any responsibility for the strike, the deadliest in Israel or Israeli-annexed territory since the start of the conflict in Gaza.
The attack sharply escalated tensions in the hostilities which have been fought in parallel to the Gaza war and has raised fears of a full-blown conflict between the heavily armed adversaries. The rocket struck a football pitch in the Druze village of Majdal Shams in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, territory captured from Syria by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed in a move not recognised by most countries.
Netanyahu says "Hezbollah will pay a heavy price"
"Hezbollah will pay a heavy price, the kind it has thus far not paid," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a phone call with the leader of the Druze community in Israel, according to a statement from his office. In a written statement, Hezbollah said: "The Islamic Resistance has absolutely nothing to do with the incident, and categorically denies all false allegations in this regard". Hezbollah had earlier announced several rocket attacks targeting Israeli military positions.
(With inputs from agencies)
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