Israel announces the death of Hezbollah special forces commander

The Israeli military says it has killed three Hezbollah members, including the group's special forces commander Radwan.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) fighter jets struck a Hezbollah-used building in Nabatieh overnight on February 14, killing Ali Muhammad al-Debes and his deputy Hassam Ibrahim Issa, the IDF said today, referring to the southern Lebanese city.

According to the IDF, al-Debes is a commander of Hezbollah's elite Radwan special forces. The IDF accuses al-Debes of involvement in a bombing in northern Israel in March 2023, and of planning and carrying out a series of other attacks against Israel.

Hezbollah confirmed on the same day that three members, including al-Debes, were killed but did not specify their locations.

Ali Muhammad al-Debes, 48, a reported Hezbollah commander who was killed in an IDF strike on February 14, 2024 (Hezbollah) — Ali Muhammad al-Debes, a commander of Hezbollah's elite Radwan special forces. Photo: *Times of Israel*

A security source said the Israeli raid on Nabatieh killed 10 people, including three Hezbollah members and seven civilians. Al-Debes was targeted and injured in an Israeli drone strike in Nabatieh on February 8.

This is the most intense and deadly attack on Lebanon carried out by the IDF since the Gaza war broke out in October 2023. The move raises concerns of an escalation of conflict in the region.

"The enemy will pay for these crimes," said Hassan Fadlallah, a Hezbollah official, adding that the force "has the legitimate right to protect its people".

The building described by security sources as the target of an Israeli airstrike in Nabatieh, Lebanon on February 15. Photo: Reuters — The building described by security sources as the target of an Israeli airstrike in Nabatieh, Lebanon on February 15. Photo: *Reuters*

Fighting across the Israel-Lebanon border has been ongoing almost daily since the Hamas attack in early October, but has largely been small-scale tit-for-tat shelling. A source familiar with Hezbollah said the Nabatieh raid was an escalation, but that it was still within the “unwritten rules of engagement” that most of the violence remained close to the border.

Israeli government spokeswoman Avy Hyman said Israel's message to Hezbollah has always been "don't challenge us". "As Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has said since the beginning of the war, we will do exactly what is happening to Hamas in Gaza with Lebanon," Hyman warned.