Beirut (April 20, 2025): A senior Hezbollah operative was killed and another seriously injured in an Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon’s Koutariyat al-Sayyad region on Sunday, according to Lebanese security and health officials. The incident marks yet another escalation in the volatile Israel-Lebanon border area despite a ceasefire agreement that has been in place since November 2024.
The drone strike targeted a vehicle traveling along the eastern road of Koutariyat al-Sayyad. Emergency services rushed to the site, and Lebanon’s Ministry of Health confirmed one fatality and one injury resulting from the attack. The slain individual was later identified as Hussain Nasr, a Hezbollah member from the town of Harouf.
A Lebanese security source stated that Nasr was not an ordinary fighter but a significant figure within the militant group. Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) later claimed responsibility for the airstrike and described Nasr as the deputy head of Hezbollah’s notorious Unit 4400—an elite wing involved in arms trafficking operations.
Who Was Hussain Nasr?
According to Israeli intelligence, Nasr played a key role in Hezbollah’s weapons smuggling network. He reportedly coordinated closely with Iranian operatives and airport staff at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport to facilitate the clandestine movement of arms and funds. His operations spanned across the Syria-Lebanon border, making him a strategic asset in Hezbollah’s logistics and military buildup.
The IDF’s statement emphasized that the attack was “surgical” and “based on precise intelligence inputs,” aimed at thwarting Hezbollah’s ongoing military expansion.
Seized Weapons in Saida-Zahrani Region
In a parallel security development, the Lebanese Army conducted a raid in the southern region of Saida-Zahrani. During the operation, multiple rocket launchers and a cache of rockets were seized from a residential apartment. Several suspects were apprehended at the scene. The raid was reportedly executed based on intelligence received from regional allies, hinting at a broader crackdown on Hezbollah’s operational infrastructure.
Ceasefire Violations and Political Reactions
The airstrike comes despite the ceasefire that came into effect on November 27, 2024, as part of a fragile truce between Israel and Hezbollah. Since then, intermittent clashes and air raids have continued, especially in Lebanon’s southern districts. Israeli authorities maintain that their strikes are targeted actions against “emerging threats” from Hezbollah cells operating close to their northern frontier.
Lebanese officials, however, see these actions as violations of their national sovereignty. On Sunday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reiterated that the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) should be the sole authority managing weapons within the country. He acknowledged that while a disarmament policy is under consideration, its implementation would depend on the right circumstances.
“The preservation of Lebanon’s independence and sovereignty must rest in the hands of its legitimate institutions,” Aoun said, stressing that any internal disputes should be resolved through dialogue, not conflict.
A Fragile Borderline
Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have simmered for decades, periodically erupting into violent confrontations. The 2024 ceasefire was brokered after months of cross-border skirmishes and was seen as a rare diplomatic success in the region. However, the fragile peace has been repeatedly tested by targeted assassinations, arms seizures, and intelligence-led military operations on both sides.
The recent attack is likely to trigger further instability in southern Lebanon, especially with the killing of a high-ranking Hezbollah official. Analysts warn that retaliation could be imminent, potentially dragging the region into another cycle of violence.
As the international community urges restraint, the people of Lebanon remain caught in the middle—grappling with political uncertainty, economic crises, and the looming threat of a renewed conflict.
