Israel announced on Friday that it had killed a Hamas commander in the Lebanese city of Sidon, along with his adult son and daughter, in a targeted airstrike. The deceased, identified as Hassan Farhat, was a commander in Hamas’s Western Division in Lebanon. The Israeli military claimed Farhat had been involved in several attacks on Israeli soldiers and civilians during the conflict that erupted in Gaza in October 2023.
According to the Israeli military, Farhat had planned a February 14, 2024 rocket strike on the Israeli town of Safed, which resulted in the death of an Israeli soldier. The strike on Sidon occurred early in the morning, at around 3:45 am local time. A Palestinian official confirmed the deaths of Farhat and his family members, and an AFP correspondent reported heavy damage to the building, with fire and explosions visible from the scene. At least three people were confirmed dead by Lebanese state media.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the airstrike, calling it a “flagrant attack on Lebanese sovereignty” and a violation of the November 27 ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon. He urged the international community to pressure Israel to cease its strikes on residential areas.
This attack follows a similar strike in southern Beirut earlier this week, which targeted a Hezbollah liaison officer. Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have been high since last September when hostilities escalated into full-scale conflict. Despite the ceasefire, Israel continues to carry out airstrikes against Hezbollah targets.
The truce agreed upon in November mandates that Hezbollah relocate its forces north of the Litani River, but the situation remains volatile, with ongoing Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon.
