Hezbollah senior commander dies, Israel is ready for all scenarios, US declares it will help allies "defend themselves"

The Israel-Lebanon situation is more tense than ever with the latest Israeli airstrike on the outskirts of Lebanon's capital Beirut, killing a Hezbollah commander.

The scene of an Israeli airstrike on the outskirts of Lebanon's capital Beirut. The small image in the upper right corner is of Hezbollah senior military commander Fuad Shukr. (Source: AP/US State Department)

On July 31, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that Hezbollah's senior military commander, Fuad Shukr, was killed in the airstrike.

Shukr, also known as Hajj Mohsin, is the head of the strategic department of the Jihad Council, Hezbollah's top military body, the Times of Israel reported in a statement. The IDF described Shukr as Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah's "right-hand man."

The IDF believes that senior military commander Shukr has directed Hezbollah attacks on Israel since October 7 last year, including a rocket attack on the village of Majdal Shams that killed 12 children on July 27, despite the movement denying that it was behind the incident.

According to the IDF, Mr. Shukr “is responsible for much of Hezbollah’s most advanced weaponry, including precision-guided missiles, cruise missiles, anti-ship missiles, long-range missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs),” as well as “force building, planning, and executing attacks against Israel.”

Mr. Shukr joined Hezbollah in 1985 and held several senior positions. The Israeli military said that in the 1990s, the commander carried out numerous attacks against the IDF and the allied South Lebanon Army.

Just before the airstrike on the evening of July 30, Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said that the country wanted to resolve hostilities without spreading the conflict, but that the IDF was "fully prepared for any scenario."

In addition, Mr. Hagari warned, Hezbollah's actions "are dragging the Lebanese people and the entire Middle East into a greater escalation."

On the US side, after the Israeli airstrike, AFP news agency quoted Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, affirming that Washington's Middle Eastern ally "has the right to defend itself". Ms. Harris said: "I want to address what has happened in the past few hours regarding the Middle East and make it clear that Israel has the right to defend itself. And I fully support Israel's right to maintain security and protect its security."

Meanwhile, Sputnik news agency quoted US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's answer when asked whether Washington was ready to protect Israel if a full-scale war broke out between the Middle Eastern country and Hezbollah, stating: "If Israel is attacked, we will help Israel defend itself."

However, Mr. Austin also said the US wanted "everything to be resolved diplomatically".

Hezbollah said it had rejected calls from international mediators not to respond to expected Israeli attacks.

The situation on the Israel-Lebanon border worsened after Israel launched a military operation in the Gaza Strip in October 2023. Israeli troops and Hezbollah forces exchanged fire almost daily in areas along the border.

Israel blamed Hezbollah for carrying out a deadly rocket attack on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on July 27, something the movement has vehemently denied.

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