The Israeli army’s Arabic-speaking spokesperson, confirmed on Tuesday the death of Hassan Ali Mahmoud Bdair.
According to Avichay Adraee, “Israeli Air Force fighter jets, under the direction of the Shin Bet, carried out an attack last night in the southern suburbs of Beirut, targeting the terrorist named Hassan Ali Mahmoud Bdair, a member of Hezbollah’s Unit 3900 and the Al-Quds Force. Recently, Bdair collaborated with the terrorist group Hamas, directing some of its members and assisting them in planning a major imminent terrorist operation against Israeli citizens. This terrorist operation was scheduled to take place soon and targeted Israeli civilians. Bdair was targeted immediately to eliminate this threat. Such activities conducted by Hezbollah violate agreements between Israel and Lebanon and pose a threat to the State of Israel and its citizens.”
The Events
In the early hours of Tuesday, Israeli military aircraft conducted an airstrike in Beirut's southern suburb, resulting in at least four fatalities (of which Hassan Bdair’s son, Ali) and six injuries, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry. The target was identified by the Israeli military as a “Hezbollah operative accused of collaborating with Hamas in Gaza to plan imminent attacks against Israeli civilians.”
This operation marked the second Israeli strike in five days on Beirut's southern suburbs since the November 2024 ceasefire with Hezbollah. The airstrike targeted a building near the Hay Madi neighborhood, damaging the top three floors, with debris affecting vehicles below.
No advance warning of the strike was given by the Israeli army, causing considerable confusion at the scene. It also recalls the assassination of Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri in January 2024.
Lebanese military intelligence forces entered the targeted building Tuesday morning to inspect the premises.
The name of the target was not disclosed, but according to the Israeli army spokesman, the air force had “acted to eliminate him” and “remove the threat.”
#عاجل 🔸هاجمت طائرات حربية الليلة الماضية بتوجيه من جهاز الأمن العام في منطقة الضاحية الجنوبية في بيروت مستهدفة عنصر ارهابي من حزب الله قام بتوجيه عناصر من حماس في الآونة الأخيرة وساعدهم في تنفيذ عملية إرهابية خطيرة على المدى الزمني الوشيك ضد المواطنين الإسرائيليين.
— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) April 1, 2025
🔸لقد شكل…
Israeli media reports indicate that Israeli security services received intelligence suggesting the individual targeted in Beirut was planning an attack on an Israeli aircraft in Cyprus. Further reports identify him as a member of Hezbollah's Unit 910, which handles external operations, and note that he was operating under the direction of Talal Hamiyeh, a senior Hezbollah figure. Hamiyeh, a first-generation member who joined the group in the mid-1980s, is listed in the US State Department’s Rewards for Justice program, which offers up to $7 million for information leading to his location.
Reactions to the Raid
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun strongly condemned the airstrike, deeming it "unacceptable and unjustified." President Aoun called for increased efforts to mobilize international support for Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also stressed the importance of preventing any violations of national sovereignty, whether from external forces or infiltrators who might provide pretexts for further aggression. Reaffirming his commitment to national unity, he expressed his intention to collaborate closely with the government and Prime Minister to counter any attempts that threaten Lebanon's stability and security.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also condemned the attack, labeling it a "dangerous escalation." He emphasized that such actions violate UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ensures Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and breach the ceasefire agreement established in November. Prime Minister Salam stated he is closely monitoring the situation in coordination with the Ministers of Defense and Interior.
Ibrahim al-Moussawi, a member of the Hezbollah parliamentary bloc, described the Israeli attack on Beirut's southern suburbs as a "major aggression" that has significantly altered the situation. He called on the Lebanese government and presidency to take decisive action and urged the international community to fulfill its responsibilities (regarding the fallout from a war launched by Hezbollah without Lebanese state approval).
This operation marks a new escalation in regional tensions, just a few days after security incidents on the Lebanese-Israeli border.
Damage to the building targeted by an #Israeli raid in the southern suburb of #Beirut early Tuesday morning. pic.twitter.com/G0s6UhrzYN
— This is Beirut (@ThisIsBeirut_) April 1, 2025
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