Hezbollah Confirms Killing of Radwan Force Commander and His Family in Israeli Strike

Hezbollah has confirmed the killing of Ali Samir al-Hajj Hassan, a commander in its elite Radwan Force, along with his wife and four children in an Israeli airstrike in Ansar, southern Lebanon. The group announced the deaths, referring to al-Hajj Hassan as the "martyr commander," and named his wife, Zainab Mahdi Nasir al-Din, and their children as casualties of the strike.

According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), al-Hajj Hassan was a key operational commander in Hezbollah's southern Lebanon activities. The strike followed Hezbollah attacks against IDF forces in the security zone, which resulted in injuries to three Israeli soldiers. The IDF targeted Hezbollah's headquarters in Ansar, where al-Hajj Hassan was present.

Additional information revealed that al-Hajj Hassan's family originally came from Shamsit in the Bekaa Valley but was relocated to southern Lebanon to obscure his activities. Reports also indicate that he previously fought in Syria alongside Assad's regime, participating in battles under the slogan "Zainab will not be sat upon twice," reflecting Hezbollah's involvement in the Syrian conflict.

Al-Hajj Hassan's death is seen as a significant blow to Hezbollah's operational command in southern Lebanon. The Radwan Force, known for offensive operations against Israel, relied on commanders like him for planning ambushes and attacks on Israeli forces. His elimination may disrupt Hezbollah's command and operational planning in the region.