IDF Strike in Lebanon Kills Hamas Leader Involved in Planning Terror Attacks on Israeli Civilians
An Israeli drone strike on a vehicle in the southern Lebanese city of Sidon killed senior Hamas commander Mohammed Shaheen, who was identified by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) as the head of Hamas operations in Lebanon.
The strike, carried out on Monday at the northern entrance of Sidon, caused the vehicle to burst into flames. Footage from the scene showed the burning car with a crowd gathered around the wreckage.
According to the IDF, Shaheen had played a critical role in planning and coordinating terror attacks against Israeli civilians, allegedly with financial and strategic support from Iran.
“Shaheen was a significant source of knowledge within the organization and was involved throughout the war with advancing various terror attacks, including rocket fire on the Israeli home front,” the IDF added.
Hamas later confirmed his death, but the group identified Shaheen as a military commander and not a Hamas head in Lebanon.
The drone strike occurred despite the ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and just one day before Israel was set to complete a partial withdrawal from Lebanon under the terms of a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah.
While Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said that the Lebanese officials are “working diplomatically to ensure a full Israeli withdrawal,” he urged the sponsors of the ceasefire deal to assist Lebanon, expressing concerns that Israel might not fully withdraw from Lebanon by Tuesday.
Aoun said that the ceasefire agreement “must be respected,” and that he would not accept any Israeli presence remaining on Lebanese territory.
