Hezbollah Commander Ali Mussa Daqduq Reportedly Killed in Israeli Airstrike

In a significant development in the Middle East, senior Hezbollah commander Ali Mussa Daqduq has reportedly been killed in an Israeli airstrike in Syria. While the exact timing and location of the strike remain unclear, a senior U.S. defense official confirmed Daqduq's death, though there is no official confirmation from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).

Daqduq, a central figure in Hezbollah's military operations, was heavily involved in attacks against the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in southern Lebanon from 2003 to 2006. Later, he moved to Iraq, where he played a key role in orchestrating attacks against U.S. forces. In 2007, Daqduq was captured by U.S. forces for his involvement in the deadly Karbala attack, which killed five American soldiers. He was eventually released into Iraqi custody in 2012, and after his release, he returned to Hezbollah to train special forces and eventually take command of the Golan File unit in 2018.

Reports indicate that Daqduq's operations were heavily supported by Iran's Quds Force, a division of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which provided training, intelligence, and coordination for Hezbollah's actions. Following the airstrike, Syrian media speculated that Daqduq had been targeted and eliminated, but the IDF has not yet confirmed his death.

The airstrike is part of broader regional tensions. On the same day, Hezbollah launched rockets at a UNIFIL post in southern Lebanon, causing significant damage. The rockets were reportedly fired from the area of Deir Qanoun, and previous strikes in Ramyeh and Chamaa earlier this week also raised concerns about Hezbollah's growing involvement in hostilities in the region. Italy, initially blaming Israel for the attacks on UNIFIL, has since aligned with UNIFIL's assessment, which attributes the strikes to Hezbollah and its affiliated groups.

The situation continues to escalate, with Hezbollah's role in the region growing more active, particularly in its attacks on Israeli and international military targets.