The head of Hamas’s military operations in southern Lebanon was killed in an Israeli air strike on Monday, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
“The Head of Hamas’ Operations Department in Lebanon, Muhammed Shaheen, was eliminated in a precise IAF strike in the area of Sidon earlier today,” the IDF said in a statement. “Shaheen was eliminated after recently planning terror attacks, directed and funded by Iran, and was a significant source of knowledge, responsible throughout the war for various terror attacks against Israeli civilians.”
Hamas has confirmed Shaheen’s death.
Under a U.S.-brokered cease-fire agreement, the Israeli army is supposed to fully withdraw its forces by Tuesday but insists on keeping control over five “strategic positions” in southern Lebanon even after the deadline. The cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah had granted Israeli troops 60 days to withdraw from southern Lebanon.
Israel initially invaded Lebanon in October 2024 to eliminate Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorists.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently said that Iran is behind everything that threatens peace in the Middle East and is the “single greatest source of instability in the region.”
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Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem said in a recorded televised speech that any Israeli military presence on Lebanese soil after Feb. 18 would be considered an occupying force.
“Israel must withdraw completely on Feb. 18, it has no pretext, no five points or other details … this is the agreement. Everyone knows how an occupation is dealt with,” Qassem said.
Israel is committed to carrying out the withdrawal in “the right way, in a gradual way, and in a way that the security of our civilians is kept,” IDF Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani told reporters.
Lebanon’s government remains opposed to further delay in the Israeli pullout.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told the media on Monday that the cease-fire agreement should be respected and that “the Israeli enemy cannot be trusted.” Lebanese officials continue to work diplomatically to achieve the full Israeli withdrawal, and Lebanon “will not accept” its continued presence on Lebanese territory, according to Aoun.
Meanwhile, a separate cease-fire in Gaza remains uncertain, as the region on Monday marked 500 days since Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, massacre against Israel. Hamas is also a militant group backed by Iran.
Rubio recently said during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the United States will support Israel in the elimination of Hamas’s military capability.
“Israel is determined to achieve all the war objectives we set after the horrific attack on October 7th, the worst attack on Jews since the Holocaust,” Rubio said.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
