Hezbollah commander Taleb Sami Abdallah, known as Hajj Abu Taleb. (Credits: Hezbollah's statement)
BEIRUT — An Israeli strike on the village of Jwayya (Sour district) on Tuesday night killed a senior Hezbollah field commander and three fighters, three security sources said.
Hezbollah confirmed the death of the commander and identified him in a statement as Taleb Abdallah, also known as Abu Taleb.
Abu Taleb is the most senior Hezbollah member killed in the past eight months of clashes with Israel, a security source told Reuters. He was identified as the group's commander for the central region of the southern border strip.
The security sources said the four Hezbollah members were likely targeted during a meeting in the town, about 15 kilometers north of the Israeli border.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the sources noted that the commander was senior to Wissam Tawil, another high-level Hezbollah commander killed in an Israeli strike in January.
Without directly commenting on Abu Taleb’s death, the Israeli military announced it hit a series of Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon in response to a barrage of "50 launches" by Hezbollah into the Golan Heights on Tuesday morning.
Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel was "prepared for a very intense operation" along the Lebanese border and that "one way or another, we will restore security to the north."
The Israeli military claims to have killed more than 320 Hezbollah members, including at least 100 targeted with "precise high-quality intelligence."
Since Oct. 8, Israeli strikes and gunfire have killed around 450 people, according to L'Orient Today's count. The majority were Hezbollah members, including commanders and operatives with key responsibilities, along with 70 civilians, 20 medics, and three journalists. On the Israeli side, authorities say at least 15 Israeli soldiers and 11 civilians have been killed in the fighting, with tens of thousands of people have been displaced on either side of the border.
BEIRUT — An Israeli strike on the village of Jwayya (Sour district) on Tuesday night killed a senior Hezbollah field commander and three fighters, three security sources said.Hezbollah confirmed the death of the commander and identified him in a statement as Taleb Abdallah, also known as Abu Taleb.Abu Taleb is the most senior Hezbollah member killed in the past...