The Israeli Air Force bombed Lebanon's capital, Beirut, on Tuesday, killing Fuad Shukr, a top Hezbollah military commander. Shukr was also known by the alias Haj Mohsen. Israel blamed Fuad Shukr for rocket attacks on its Golan Heights. The Israeli military stated, 'Our fighter jets have eliminated Fuad Shukr, the senior military commander and strategic unit chief of the terrorist organization Hezbollah, in Beirut.' Hezbollah is one of the most influential Shia military groups in Lebanon and the broader Middle East.
Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, a spokesperson for the Israeli army, said, 'Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr was responsible for the Majdal Shams massacre.' On the evening of July 27, Hezbollah targeted a football field in northern Israel with Iranian Fakel-1 rockets. The rocket attack tragically killed 12 children playing on the field. Following this attack, Israel vowed revenge and threatened Hezbollah with severe consequences. Fuad Shukr was the right-hand man of Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah, acting as an advisor in planning and executing attacks and operations.
Fuad Shukr's Hands Stained with Innocent Blood: Israel
Daniel Hagari emphasized that Shukr was a terrorist with blood on his hands, responsible for the deaths of Israelis and many other innocents. Since the start of the Gaza conflict, Fuad Shukr led Hezbollah's attacks on Israel. He was closely associated with the renowned Hezbollah commander Imad Mughniyeh. Mughniyeh's death in 2008 was a significant blow to Hezbollah, and Shukr was seen as a key figure continuing Mughniyeh's legacy within the organization. Following the death of Hezbollah commander Mustafa Badreddine in Syria in 2016, Shukr was entrusted with additional responsibilities within the group.
Fuad Shukr: A Wanted Man in the US for Four Decades
Under Shukr's leadership, Hezbollah bombed the US Marine Corps barracks in Beirut on October 23, 1983. The attack killed 241 US soldiers and injured 128 others, marking one of the deadliest attacks on the US military in history. The United States had placed a $5 million bounty (approximately 42 crore rupees) on his head. The IDF revealed that in the 1990s, Hezbollah commander Shukr was directly involved in the kidnapping and killing of three Israeli soldiers, Binyamin Avraham, Adi Avitan, and Omar Sawaid, who were patrolling along the security fence adjacent to Har Dov.
America Offered $5 Million Reward for Shukr
Due to his extensive involvement in terrorist activities, Shukr was designated a global terrorist by the US Department of State on September 10, 2019. Shukr had been a member of Hezbollah for nearly 30 years, serving as the head of its military branch and considered the organization's second-in-command. US Vice President Kamala Harris commented on Fuad Shukr's death, expressing support for Israel. She stated that Tel Aviv has the full right to defend itself against a terrorist organization and emphasized the need for a diplomatic solution to resolve the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
