By William Emily l Date: May 7, 2026
A senior commander from Hezbollah’s elite Radwan force was killed on Wednesday after Israeli warplanes launched an airstrike on the southern suburbs of Beirut, marking the first Israeli attack on the Lebanese capital’s Hezbollah-controlled district in nearly a month. The strike comes amid renewed regional tensions despite ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing hostilities across the Middle East.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that the operation specifically targeted “the commander of Hezbollah’s Radwan force,” a key elite unit within the Iran-backed militant organization. A source close to Hezbollah later identified the commander as Malek Ballout, who reportedly served as the operations commander of the Radwan force.
According to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency, Israeli fighter jets struck the Ghobeiri neighborhood in Beirut’s southern suburbs, an area widely regarded as a Hezbollah stronghold. Witnesses described scenes of devastation as buildings were reduced to rubble and residents fled with personal belongings following the explosion.
A Lebanese security source told AFP that the airstrike targeted an apartment where senior Radwan force leaders were reportedly holding a meeting. The attack shattered weeks of relative calm in Beirut after Israeli strikes on April 8 killed more than 350 people across Lebanon.
The Israeli military has intensified operations against Hezbollah positions since clashes resumed earlier this year following the broader regional conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. Israel maintains that its military actions are intended to prevent future attacks by Hezbollah fighters operating near the Israeli border.
At least 11 additional people were killed in separate Israeli airstrikes across southern and eastern Lebanon on Wednesday, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. In the southern town of Saksakiyeh alone, four people were reported dead while 33 others were injured, including women and children.
The Israeli military also stated that four of its soldiers were wounded in southern Lebanon after what it described as an “explosive drone impact.” One soldier was said to be in serious condition. Hezbollah has continued launching retaliatory attacks against Israeli troops despite a ceasefire agreement that officially came into force on April 17.
Since the outbreak of the conflict in March, Israeli military operations in Lebanon have killed more than 2,700 people and displaced over one million residents, particularly in southern Lebanon, eastern regions, and Beirut’s southern suburbs. Humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned about worsening civilian conditions and mounting damage to critical infrastructure.
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the organization had verified 152 attacks on healthcare facilities during the conflict, resulting in over 100 deaths and hundreds of injuries. Several hospitals and dozens of health centers have either been damaged or forced to close because of ongoing violence.
Meanwhile, diplomatic pressure continues to grow for a broader regional settlement. US President Donald Trump said earlier Wednesday that there was “a very good chance” of reaching a peace agreement with Iran, raising hopes that negotiations could eventually help reduce tensions involving Hezbollah and other Iran-backed groups across the region.