Hezbollah naval commander killed in Israeli strike in southern Lebanon

The Israel Defense Force confirmed carrying out a drone strike in the Tyre area of Lebanon on Tuesday, saying it killed a Hezbollah commander involved in advancing attacks against Israel amid the ceasefire.

The commander, Haidar Hashem, was responsible for the naval forces in the terror group’s elite Radwan Force, according to the military.

The IDF said that as part of his role, he was involved in efforts to smuggle arms to Hezbollah via the sea, as well as planning naval attacks on Israel and Israeli civilians, including during the ongoing ceasefire.

“Hashem’s activities were a threat to the State of Israel and its citizens, and blatant violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon,” the military added.

Lebanese media earlier said an Israeli strike on a vehicle in southern Lebanon killed one person.

“An enemy drone launched a strike” targeting a vehicle in the Tyre district, killing one person, Lebanese state media said, publishing an image of a burning, mangled car.

מוקדם יותר היום, כלי טיס של חיל האוויר תקף, בהכוונת פיקוד הצפון ואגף המודיעין, במרחב קנא וחיסל את המחבל חצ׳ר שעיד האשם, אשר שימש כמפקד הכוחות הימיים בכוח רדואן של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה ועסק בפעילות טרור נגד מדינת ישראל ואזרחיה >> pic.twitter.com/DLEDZh3YzZ

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) March 4, 2025

A November 27, 2024, truce agreement largely halted more than a year of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, including two months of full-blown war during which Israel sent in ground troops.

The fighting came after the terror group opened fire on the Jewish state on October 8, 2023, in support of ally Hamas, which had invaded Israel from Gaza a day earlier. The persistent rocket fire from Lebanon displaced some 60,000 Israeli civilians.

صورة للسيارة التي استهدفتها مسيرة اسرائيلية في رشكنانيه قضاء #صور pic.twitter.com/ev9uiXE8iK

— هنا لبنان (@thisislebnews) March 4, 2025

Last month, Israel withdrew all its forces from southern Lebanon, with the exception of five strategic points, saying it had received a green light from the US to remain at those posts, and citing the need to prevent Hezbollah returning to the area and threatening Israel.

The agreement allows Israel to respond to imminent threats, and Israel has continued to carry out strikes on Lebanese territory since the deal took effect.

Israel can also report violations of the agreement to a US-led committee, composed of representatives from the US, France, Lebanon and the international observer force UNIFIL.

Last week, Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israeli forces will remain at the strategic posts in southern Lebanon “without a time limit,” adding, “It depends on the situations, not on the time.”

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.