After Nasrallah, Israeli military declares Hezbollah leader Nabil Kaouk is killed

People check the rubble of buildings which were levelled on September 27 by Israeli strikes that targeted and killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in the Haret Hreik neighbourhood of Beirut's southern suburbs, on September 29, 2024. (Photo by AFP)

A day after confirming the death of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in a targeted airstrike, the Israeli military has announced the killing of another high-ranking Hezbollah figure, Nabil Kaouk, who was seen as a potential successor. This escalation in violence comes as Israel continues its offensive in Lebanon, targeting numerous Hezbollah sites described as "terror targets".

ELIMINATED: The Commander of Hezbollah's Preventative Security Unit and a member of their Executive Council, Nabil Qaouk, was eliminated in a precise IDF strike.Qaouk was close to Hezbollah's senior commanders and was directly engaged in terrorist attacks against the State of pic.twitter.com/dcvKLRkMbf
Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) September 29, 2024

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, responded to Nasrallah’s death, stating it “will not go unavenged,” raising concerns about the potential for a broader regional conflict.

Supporters of Hezbollah have begun mourning Kaouk, although the organization has yet to publicly comment on his fate. The Israeli navy has intercepted a projectile approaching its shores from the Red Sea, while eight additional projectiles launched from Lebanon have landed in open areas, the military reported.

The ongoing conflict has led to sustained fighting along the Israel-Lebanon border. Overnight clashes continued, with Lebanon firing projectiles into the West Bank following deadly Israeli airstrikes.

The humanitarian toll has been severe, with reports indicating that over 700 individuals have lost their lives and approximately 118,000 have been displaced since the outbreak of violence.

The latest round of airstrikes on Friday alone resulted in at least 11 deaths and 108 injuries in Beirut, marking the most significant attack on the Lebanese capital in the past year.