Hezbollah confirmed that another one of its top commanders, Ali Karaki, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Friday.
The Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group said Karaki was killed alongside the group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah. Karaki was the commander of Hezbollah’s units in southern Lebanon, The Associated Press reported.
CNN noted Karaki had been part of confrontations with Israel in 2000 and 2006.
Hezbollah confirmed Saturday that Nasrallah, who led the group for decades, had been killed in a strike Friday from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) as tensions in the region escalate.
The IDF said Sunday that Nabil Kaouk, a preventative security commander for Hezbollah, was also killed in a “precise IDF strike.”
Hezbollah is likely to continue its attacks against Israel and restructure its organization since much of its leadership has been taken out in recent months. It will likely be backed by its primary sponsor, Iran, which sparks concerns that an all-out war may happen.
The IDF pledged Sunday to continue its strikes against Hezbollah leadership and said it will “act against anyone who threatens” Israel.
Nasrallah’s long time adviser, Samir Tawfiq Dib, was killed in the strike Friday. Ali Naaf Ayoub, who was responsible for Hezbollah’s firepower, was also killed, CNN reported.
The strikes come as Israel nears the one year mark in its war with Palestinian militant group Hamas.
The war in Gaza broke out on Oct. 7, 2023 after Hamas invaded Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking about 200 hostages. Israel has killed more than 41,000 in its counteroffensive, local health officials say.
World leaders have called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach a cease-fire deal with Hamas and have cautioned him about moving forward against Hezbollah and Iran, but the leader struck a defiant tone Friday at the United Nations and said Israel would fight on.
