Israel says airstrike targeted 'senior Hezbollah commander' in Beirut
The IDF conducted a precision strike in Beirut's southern suburbs, with Hezbollah neither confirming nor denying the death of the named official.
Middle East — March 2, 2026
Israel's military said it carried out a precision airstrike in Beirut's southern suburbs targeting what it described as a 'senior Hezbollah commander' responsible for coordinating cross-border weapons transfers from Iran.
The IDF named the target as Ibrahim al-Qabisi, who it said oversaw Hezbollah's anti-tank missile unit. Hezbollah did not immediately confirm or deny al-Qabisi's death.
The strike destroyed a residential building in the Dahieh neighborhood. Lebanese civil defense said at least eight people were killed and 22 wounded, including civilians from surrounding apartments.
Israel issued an advance warning via WhatsApp messages and phone calls to residents of the targeted block, urging evacuation before the strike—a practice it has employed throughout the current escalation.
Lebanon's caretaker government condemned the strike as a 'violation of Lebanese sovereignty' and filed a formal complaint with the UN Security Council.
The strike raised fears of a renewed escalation on the Lebanon front at a time when the Lebanese military was already stretched trying to enforce the prime minister's order against Hezbollah military activity.
