The Israeli military said it targeted and killed a senior Hezbollah official in Beirut, Lebanon. The Israeli military said the commander was responsible for Saturday’s attack that killed children playing soccer in Majdal Shams, in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on social media that Hezbollah had “crossed the red line.”
The Lebanese Red Cross said the strike hit a residential building, killing at least two people and wounding 20.
The target of the Israeli strike was Fouad Shukr, also known as Al-Hajj Mohsen, according to three security sources familiar with the operation.
The Israeli military says Shukr was killed in the attack.
The United States was given advance warning of the Israeli strike, according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter. The message was conveyed through security channels and limited operational details were shared, the official said.
Vice President Kamala Harris said Tuesday that “Israel has the right to defend itself against a terrorist organization, which is exactly what Hezbollah is.”
“But all that being said, we still need to work on a diplomatic solution to end these attacks and we will continue that work,” she added.
State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters he had “no update on any specific activity,” but added: “We have had ongoing discussions with our Israeli and Lebanese counterparts since the weekend incident, and the United States will continue to support efforts to reach a diplomatic solution along the Blue Line.”
“Our support for Israel’s security is unwavering and unwavering, particularly as it defends itself against Iranian-backed threats, including those from Hezbollah,” Patel said.
-Dana Savir and Shannon Kingston of ABC News
