Israel killed a Hamas commander in an airstrike on southern Lebanon on Friday, heightening tensions and putting further strain on the ceasefire that ended last year’s conflict between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
According to the Israeli military, the commander, Hassan Farhat, was responsible for a rocket attack on the Israeli city of Safed last year that resulted in casualties among Israeli soldiers. The military vowed to continue targeting Hamas operatives “wherever they operate.”
A security source confirmed that Farhat was killed in the strike along with his son and daughter in the southern Lebanese city of Sidon. Hamas’ armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, stated that Farhat was assassinated in his apartment and praised his long-standing involvement in the conflict with Israel.
Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, condemned the Israeli strike, calling it a sign that “the enemy intends to broaden its aggression and target all of Lebanon.”
Hamas and Hezbollah are allies. In 2023, Hezbollah launched cross-border attacks on Israel in solidarity with Hamas, leading to an Israeli military campaign in Lebanon that killed several Hezbollah leaders.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s office described Friday’s airstrike as a direct violation of the US-brokered ceasefire agreement.
The truce, agreed upon in November, has been under growing pressure in recent weeks. Israel has carried out two strikes in Hezbollah-controlled parts of southern Beirut, and rockets have twice been launched from Lebanon into Israel.
Hezbollah accused the ceasefire sponsors, including the United States, of turning a blind eye to Israeli actions. The US, in response to Israel’s strikes in Beirut, supported Israel’s right to self-defense and blamed “terrorist groups” for the renewed violence.
