Israel¡¯s military claimed it killed Hezbollah¡¯s most senior commander in an airstrike on Beirut on Tuesday, in retaliation for a cross-border rocket attack that killed 12 youths three days ago, which it blamed on the Lebanese armed group.

A loud blast was heard, and a plume of smoke could be seen rising above Beirut¡¯s southern suburbs ¡ª a stronghold of the Iran-backed Hezbollah ¡ª at around 7:40 p.m., a witness said.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the strike killed Fuad Shukr, who ¡°has the blood of many Israelis on his hands. Tonight, we have shown that the blood of our people has a price, and that there is no place out of reach for our forces to this end.¡±