Israel kills Hezbollah Radwan Force commander in Lebanon’s Beirut strike amid ceasefire tensions

Beirut

3 min readUpdated: May 7, 2026 06:07 PM IST

Israel on Thursday said it had killed a commander of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force in an airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburbs, the first strike on the Lebanese capital since a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah came into effect last month.

The strike hit the Dahieh area in southern Beirut on Wednesday night, targeting what Israel described as a Hezbollah command presence. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said the operation had been personally approved and claimed the commander was involved in attacks on Israeli troops and communities in northern Israel.

According to Lebanese media reports, members of Hezbollah’s Radwan unit were meeting when the strike took place around 8 pm local time. Videos circulating online showed flames rising from a damaged building in the Haret Hreik neighbourhood, a Hezbollah stronghold. Hezbollah had not officially commented on the strike till Thursday morning.

The attack has deepened the tension on the already fragile ceasefire announced on April 16 after weeks of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. The truce mostly stopped Israeli attacks on Beirut; however, fighting has continued in southern Lebanon, with both sides blaming each other for breaching the deal.

Israel has been carrying out military actions south of the Litani River and claims that its goal is to create a “Hezbollah-free” security zone along the border. Hezbollah, which is supported by Iran, has reacted with rocket and drone attacks directed at Israeli soldiers and northern Israel.

Lebanon’s health ministry stated that more than 2,700 have died in Lebanon since the restart of the fighting in March. Israel states that 17 soldiers and two civilians have lost their lives during the conflict.

The Express Global Desk at The Indian Express delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis.

A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students.

All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence.

Core Team

The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy:

Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership.

Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage.

Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. … Read More

Stay updated with the latest – Click here to follow us on Instagram

© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd