Israel Eliminates Hezbollah Communications Chief In Beirut Airstrike, Warns Of 'More Surprises In Store'

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Friday announced that an airstrike in Lebanon’s Beirut the day before killed Mohammed Rashid Skafi Mohammad Rashid Sakafi, the head of Hezbollah’s communication networks.

“Mohammad Rashid Sakafi, the Commander of Hezbollah’s Communications Unit, was killed during a precise, intelligence-based strike in Beirut yesterday,” the IDF stated in a post on X.

According to the Israeli military, Sakafi was “a senior Hezbollah terrorist who was responsible for the communications unit since 2000” and was “closely affiliated” with high-up Hezbollah officials.

Israel conducted a series of large airstrikes overnight in the southern suburbs of Beirut and targeted another area that cut off the main border crossing between Lebanon and Syria, a key route for tens of thousands of people fleeing the Israeli bombardment.

The strike, which Israel has not commented on, follows the recent exodus of 310,000 people, mainly Syrians, fleeing the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon to seek safety in neighbouring Syria.

‘More surprises in store’

Earlier today, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that Israel has “more surprises in store” for Hezbollah as ground operations continue in southern Lebanon, according to a report by the Times of Israel.

“Hezbollah is receiving very severe blows, one after the other. We eliminated [Hezbollah chief Hassan] Nasrallah and we have more surprises in store, some of which have already been carried out and some of which will be carried out,” Gallant said during a visit to the 36th Division’s headquarters in northern Israel.

Gallant further added that the IDF is “carrying out an operation today in several villages, and this process will continue wherever necessary to destroy all the infrastructure from which Hezbollah planned to carry out attacks.”

(With inputs from agencies)