BEIRUT: The body of Fuad Shukr, a senior Hezbollah commander killed in an Israeli airstrike, has been recovered from the rubble of a targeted building in southern Beirut, a source close to Hezbollah confirmed to AFP on Wednesday.
The body was recovered nearly 24 hours after the Israeli strike, which has heightened fears of a broader regional conflict amid escalating violence in the Middle East.
The Israeli military conducted the airstrike on Tuesday evening, targeting Shukr, whom they described as Hezbollah’s “most senior military commander” and a key aide to the group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah.
The Israeli army claimed responsibility for the strike, accusing Shukr of orchestrating Saturday’s rocket attack on the Golan Heights.
Hezbollah initially confirmed that Shukr was present in the building targeted by the strike but did not immediately release information about his status. The source, who requested anonymity, later revealed to AFP that Shukr’s body had been located under the rubble.
The attack on the Beirut suburb, a heavily populated residential area and a stronghold of Hezbollah, resulted in significant civilian casualties. According to Lebanon’s health ministry, the raid killed five civilians, including three women and two children.
The Israeli strike on Shukr was followed by a separate, highly controversial strike on Tehran, where Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed. This escalation has sparked fears that the conflict, which has already seen significant violence in Gaza, could expand into a wider regional confrontation.
The killing of Haniyeh in Tehran, which Iran has condemned as a “flagrant violation of international law,” has been met with promises of severe retaliation from Tehran. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has vowed “harsh punishment” for Israel, further inflaming tensions.
The recent violence comes amid ongoing efforts by the international community to de-escalate the situation and address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The United Nations chief has described the attacks as a “dangerous escalation” and has called for immediate efforts to reach a ceasefire.
