An Israeli air strike on the outskirts of Tyre in southern Lebanon has killed a senior field commander of Hezbollah, Middle East Eye reports on July 3rd.
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Hezbollah announced the death of Mohammad Nehmeh Nasser, known as Hajj Abu Nehmeh, who was originally from the southern town of Haddatha. Security sources informed Reuters that Nasser’s rank and significance within the group were comparable to those of Taleb Abdallah, another high-ranking Hezbollah commander killed by Israel in June. Abdallah’s death marked the highest-ranking Hezbollah casualty since near-daily border clashes with Israel began on October 8th.
In response to Nasser’s killing, Hezbollah launched its largest barrage of drones and rockets into Israel, pledging to escalate its attacks in retaliation. Nasser had overseen a segment of Hezbollah’s operations along the Israeli border and led the Aziz Unit, one of the group’s three regional divisions in southern Lebanon.
In recent weeks, rhetoric from both Hezbollah and Israel has intensified as border tensions escalate and ceasefire negotiations in Gaza remain stalled.
Middle East Eye, Reuters and agencies