IDF confirms it killed Hezbollah’s liaison with Syrian army in Damascus strike

Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

The IDF takes responsibility for an airstrike near Damascus earlier today that killed Hezbollah’s liaison with the Syrian army, Salman Jumaa.

According to the military, Jumaa was a “key” figure in the relationship between the Syrian Army and Hezbollah, enabling weapons to be transferred to the terror group in Lebanon via Syria.

“The Syrian regime supports Hezbollah and allows the organization to exploit it for the transfer of weapons to Lebanon,” the IDF says.

The military says that Jumaa, as part of his role as Hezbollah’s liaison with the Syrian Army, “assisted in the transfer of weapons from the Syrians to Hezbollah,” including during the recent conflict.

Jumaa was also “in close contact” with senior Syrian government officials, the IDF says.

A veteran Hezbollah operative, the military says Jumaa held various positions in the terror group including in Syria.

He previously was the head of Hezbollah’s intelligence in the Khiam area of southern Lebanon, and later head of operations in Damascus. In recent years he was appointed as the liaison with the Syrian army.

The IDF adds that “his elimination is a blow” to Hezbollah’s entrenchment in Syria and the terror group’s ability to rearm.

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