Hezbollah says key commander Fouad Shukr was in Beirut building hit by Israeli strike

By Wassim Saifeddine

BEIRUT (AA) — Lebanese group Hezbollah confirmed Wednesday that prominent commander Fouad Shukr was in a building targeted by an Israeli airstrike on Tuesday evening.

"The great leader, Fouad Shukr (Hajj Mohsen), was present in this building at that time (of the airstrike)," Hezbollah said in its first statement since the strike on a southern suburb of Beirut. However, it added, his fate "is still unknown."

Hezbollah mentioned that it "is still waiting for the debris to be cleared" to determine the fate of leader Fouad Shukr.

On Tuesday, the Israeli military struck southern Beirut to target a senior Hezbollah commander in retaliation for an attack Saturday on the Druze town of Majdal Shams in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

While Israel blamed Hezbollah for Saturday's attack, the group denied any responsibility.

The Lebanese Health Ministry said at least three people were killed in the Israeli strike on Beirut and 74 people were injured.

Tuesday's airstrike is the second Israeli attack on the southern suburb of Beirut since Jan. 2, when Israel assassinated Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala