A source close to Hezbollah informed the Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Tuesday that the target of the assassination operation the IDF conducted Monday night was Hassan Badir, the deputy head of Hezbollah's Palestinian file, who was at his home with family members when the strike occurred. Badir is also the brother of the terrorist organization's military communications officer.
Photographs show Badir aboard an aircraft with slain Iranian Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani and a senior Iraqi militia figure who was also killed, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis – clear evidence of his proximity to top leadership within the Iranian axis. According to the IDF statement, Badir was collaborating with Hamas elements to plan an attack against Israel.
The IDF further disclosed that Badir operated as a member of Hezbollah's unit 3900 and the Iranian Quds Force. "Hassan Badir has been working recently in cooperation with the Hamas terrorist organization, directing Hamas terrorists and assisting them in advancing a serious attack against Israeli civilians in the immediate timeframe," the military statement explained. "The attack, planned for the immediate timeframe, was aimed at harming Israeli citizens, and therefore Hassan Badir was attacked immediately to remove the threat."
The assassination sparked fury in Hezbollah circles. Supporters gathered around the targeted building in Beirut's Dahieh neighborhood, chanting "At your command, Nasrallah." Ibrahim al-Musawi, Hezbollah's representative in the Lebanese parliament, stated, "We heard the condemnations from the president and prime minister, but it should not stop there. The government must summon the ambassadors of the powers."
Ali Ammar, another parliament member representing the terrorist movement, claimed, "Through these attacks, Israel is attacking the reputation and standing of the international community. Only the language of resistance will work with the enemy. Hezbollah is acting with maximum patience, but even patience has limits. We are waiting, and the resistance continues. It is ready at full strength and has compensated for all its losses many times."
On Tuesday morning, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun declared, "This attack in the vicinity of Beirut – the second since the November 26 agreement – is a dangerous warning about intentions against Lebanon, especially considering its timing, which came after the signing of the Jeddah agreement to control the borders between Lebanon and Syria, under Saudi Arabian patronage. It came after our visit to Paris and the convergence of positions with French President Emmanuel Macron. Israel's persistence in its aggression requires us to make greater efforts to respond to Lebanon's friends around the world."
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the strike and stated that it represented "a clear violation of the ceasefire arrangements. The aggression on Dahieh is a violation of Resolution 1701, which emphasizes Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity."
