The Israeli military announced Sunday that it had killed Nabil Kaouk, a high-ranking Hezbollah official, in a strike on a southern Beirut suburb on Saturday. This claim comes just a day after Hezbollah confirmed the death of its longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Lebanese militant group.
Kaouk, who served as the deputy head of Hezbollah’s Central Council and was the group’s military commander in south Lebanon from 1995 to 2010, had been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury in 2020 along with another council member, Hassan al-Baghdadi. Hezbollah has not yet commented on Israel’s claim regarding Kaouk’s death.
The reported killing occurred hours after an Israeli airstrike in northeast Lebanon resulted in 11 fatalities. Israel states it is targeting Hezbollah positions in Lebanon as part of its broader military campaign.
The conflict has led to a substantial displacement of civilians in southern Lebanon, with the United Nations reporting that over 211,000 people have been forced to flee their homes, more than doubling previous estimates.
In a related development, the Israeli military announced the discovery and dismantling of a Hamas tunnel in central Gaza. The tunnel, over a kilometer (0.6 miles) long, was found near residential buildings and contained rooms and equipment for extended stays. Israel released footage showing the tunnel’s entrance, a long staircase, and what appeared to be an iron blast door.
Meanwhile, the ongoing conflict is having far-reaching economic impacts. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi revealed that revenues from the Suez Canal have plummeted by 60%, or more than $6 billion, in recent months. This dramatic decrease is attributed to shipping disruptions in the Red Sea caused by attacks from Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who claim to be targeting vessels linked to Israel, the United States, and Britain in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
“The ongoing developments are very serious and could lead to expanding the conflict’s theater,” el-Sissi said during a graduation ceremony at the Police Academy in Cairo. The Suez Canal, a crucial source of foreign currency for Egypt’s economy, has seen a significant drop in transiting vessels, from 25,911 in the 2022-23 fiscal year to 20,148 in 2023-24.
AP
