The Israeli military announced on Sunday that it had killed Deputy Head of Hezbollah’s Central Council Nabil Kaouk in an airstrike, amidst significant losses for the Lebanese group, including the death of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah.
Hezbollah has not yet commented on Kaouk’s death.
In recent weeks, several high-ranking Hezbollah commanders have been killed in Israeli operations, including founding members who had long evaded death or capture and were closely associated with Nasrallah.
Hezbollah has also been the target of an attack on its communication systems, widely attributed to Israel. A series of Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon has reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 1,030 people, including 156 women and 87 children, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.
Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced by the latest strikes, with government estimates indicating around 250,000 in shelters, while many more are staying with friends or family or are living on the streets, as reported by Lebanese Environment Minister Nasser Yassin.
Kaouk was a long-standing member of Hezbollah, having joined in the 1980s, and served as the military commander in southern Lebanon during the 2006 war with Israel. He frequently appeared in local media to discuss political and security matters and was known for delivering eulogies at the funerals of senior militants. The United States had imposed sanctions on him in 2020.
Following Hamas’ attack from Gaza on October 7, which triggered the current conflict, Hezbollah began firing rockets, missiles, and drones into northern Israel. Both groups are allied and see themselves as part of an Iran-backed “Axis of Resistance” against Israel.
Israel has responded with extensive airstrikes, escalating the conflict toward the brink of all-out war and raising concerns about a regional escalation.
Israel seeks to facilitate the return of approximately 60,000 of its citizens to northern communities evacuated nearly a year ago. Hezbollah has stated that it will cease its rocket attacks only if a ceasefire in Gaza is established, a resolution that has remained elusive despite months of indirect negotiations led by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt.