Israeli Airstrike Kills Hezbollah Commander Ibrahim Qubaisi, Key Missile Units Leader, In Beirut

An Israeli airstrike in Beirut killed Ibrahim Qubaisi, a top Hezbollah commander who, according to the IDF, has commanded several missile units and was involved in launching missiles toward Israeli civilians.

 An Israeli airstrike on Tuesday targeted the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital Beirut, killing a prominent Hezbollah commander, Ibrahim Qubaisi, who was a key figure in its rocket division, according to Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). The strike, which claimed six lives, has added to the mounting pressure on the Iran-backed group, which has been facing setbacks in recent Israeli operations.

In a post on X, the IDF informed, "Ibrahim Muhammad Qabisi, the Commander of Hezbollah's Missiles and Rockets Force, was eliminated by an IAF airstrike in Beirut."

"Qabisi commanded several missile units within the Hezbollah terrorist organization, including the Precision Guided Missile Unit. Over the years and during the war, he was responsible for launching missiles toward Israeli civilians. He also served as a significant source of knowledge in the field of missiles and had close ties to senior military leaders in Hezbollah," it stated.

"Qabisi was eliminated alongside additional central commanders in Hezbollah's Missiles and Rockets Force," the post further read.

The latest escalation between Israeli forces and Hezbollah has heightened fears that the nearly year-long conflict in the region could further destabilise the Middle East, particularly as fighting between Hamas and Israel in Gaza continues with no resolution in sight. Israel carried out the strike in the Hezbollah-controlled area for the second consecutive day, as Hezbollah launched rockets into northern Israel earlier on Tuesday.

Israel, which has been engaged in nearly 12 months of warfare with Hamas on its southern border, is now shifting its focus to the northern front, where Hezbollah has been firing rockets in support of Hamas, according to news agency Reuters' report. Both Hezbollah and Hamas receive significant backing from Iran.

The Lebanese health ministry initially reported that the airstrike in the Ghobeiry neighbourhood of Beirut resulted in six fatalities and 15 injuries. The strike comes a day after Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah targets, which, according to Lebanese authorities, resulted in over 500 deaths in what has been described as the country's deadliest day in decades, the report stated.

Israel’s focus on securing its northern border and ensuring the safety of residents has made it clear that the conflict could be prolonged. Meanwhile, Hezbollah has vowed to continue its resistance until a ceasefire is achieved in Gaza.

"The situation requires continued, intense action in all arenas," Israeli Military Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi stated following a security assessment, reiterating the military's commitment to keeping up the pressure on Hezbollah.

Lebanese authorities stated that 558 people had died in Monday's strikes, including 50 children and 94 women, with an additional 1,835 wounded, as per the report. The violence has prompted tens of thousands to flee their homes, while the sheer scale of the attacks has spread panic in Lebanon, a country still haunted by the devastation of the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war.

According to Reuters, Beirut resident Hassan Omar expressed his anxieties, saying, "We are waiting for victory, God willing, because as long as we have a neighbour like Israel, we can’t sleep safely." Afif Ibrahim, a taxi driver from southern Lebanon, added, "They (Israel) want us (Lebanese) to kneel, but we kneel only to God in our prayers; we bow our heads to no one but God."

Calls For De-Escalation, Diplomacy Amid Rising Conflict On Lebanon-Israel Border

As the situation continues to worsen, calls for diplomacy are growing louder. UN human rights chief Volker Turk has called on all states and actors to work towards averting further escalation in Lebanon. Meanwhile, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan stated on MSNBC that he believes there is still "a path forward" towards de-escalation and a diplomatic solution.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also urged restraint, stating, "I call again for all parties to step back from the brink," while addressing his Labour party, highlighting the need for de-escalation on the Lebanon-Israel border.

The ongoing conflict has raised concerns about a wider war, potentially drawing in the United States, Israel’s close ally, and Iran, which supports Hezbollah, Yemen’s Houthis, and armed groups in Iraq.

In related news, pan-Arab television station Al-Mayadeen reported that one of its journalists, Hadi al-Sayyed, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Monday. He is the fourth journalist killed in Lebanon since October, including Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah, who died in an Israeli tank fire incident last year.