How many top Hezbollah, Hamas leaders has Israel assassinated so far?

Sept. 20, 2024, 5:37 p.m.

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Israeli forces conducted an airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs on Friday, killing at least 11 senior Hezbollah commanders, including Ibrahim Aqil, the head of the group's elite Radwan unit.

This strike is the most recent action in a string of operations targeting key individuals in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah, which has lasted for a year.

Here is a summary of some recent operations attributed to Israel that have targeted leaders of Hezbollah and Hamas.

Hezbollah

Ibrahim Aqil: Aqil, also known as “Tahsin” and “Abdelqader”, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburbs on Sept. 20. The US has linked him to the deadly 1983 bombings that struck US targets in Lebanon.

Advertisement Fuad Shukr: Hezbollah’s top military commander, Fuad Shukr, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on July 30 in Beirut’s southern suburbs. Shukr was a prominent figure in Hezbollah since its inception over four decades ago and was considered a close confidante of the group’s leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. The US had placed sanctions on Shukr in 2015 for his involvement in the 1983 Marine barracks bombing.

Mohammed Nasser: Killed in an Israeli airstrike on July 3, Nasser led a Hezbollah unit responsible for attacks along the southwestern Lebanon-Israel border. Israel claimed responsibility for his death, stating that he directed operations along the frontier.

Taleb Abdallah: Abdallah, a high-ranking Hezbollah field commander, was killed in an Israeli strike on June 12 that targeted a command center in southern Lebanon. His death triggered a barrage of rocket fire from Hezbollah into Israel. Abdallah was a top commander along the central southern border.

Hamas

Mohammed Deif: Israel declared that it killed Mohammed Deif, a senior Hamas military leader, in a strike on Khan Younis in Gaza on July 13. Deif, who had survived numerous assassination attempts by Israel, was believed to be a key figure behind the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel, although Hamas has not confirmed his death.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in a missile attack in Iran on July 31, the militant group said. He was staying in a state guesthouse when the attack occurred. Israel has not claimed responsibility for the strike.

Saleh al-Arouri: An Israeli drone strike on Jan. 2, 2024, killed Saleh al-Arouri, Hamas’ deputy chief, in the Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh. Arouri was also the founder of the Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing.

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