Israel Targets Hamas Commander in Deadly Sidon Airstrike
SIDON: A pre-dawn Israeli airstrike on Friday in the Lebanese port city of Sidon killed a senior Hamas commander along with his son and daughter. The strike ignited fires and caused significant damage to residential buildings in the area, leading to widespread panic.
The Israeli military confirmed the operation, stating that its forces, in coordination with domestic intelligence agency Shin Bet, carried out a precision strike targeting the Hamas commander responsible for operations in western Lebanon.
Hamas’s armed wing, the Ezzedine Al Qassam Brigades, identified the commander as Farhat. They confirmed his death along with his son Hamza—also a member of the group—and his daughter Jenan.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos, with a fourth-floor apartment engulfed in flames and damage spreading to nearby buildings. The National News Agency (NNA) reported the 3:45am strike resulted in at least three deaths, referring to them as “martyrs.”
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam denounced the attack, labeling it a “blatant violation of Lebanese sovereignty” and a breach of the November 27 ceasefire agreement. He urged the international community to exert pressure on Israel to end its repeated military actions targeting civilian areas.
Earlier this week, Israel also struck southern Beirut, killing a Hezbollah-Palestinian liaison officer. According to Lebanon’s health ministry, four people, including a woman, died in that attack. Israel claimed the strike was a response to recent rocket fire, which Hezbollah denied involvement in.
Tensions have remained high between Israel and Hezbollah despite the ceasefire, which requires Hezbollah to move its forces north of the Litani River and dismantle military positions in southern Lebanon. Conversely, Israel was expected to withdraw from occupied points along the UN-demarcated Blue Line but has missed two deadlines and continues to occupy five strategic positions.
