Who was Fuad Shukr? Hezbollah commander believed dead after Israeli airstrike in Beirut

Fuad Shukr, a prominent Hezbollah commander, is believed to have been killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut on Tuesday. Shukr, a key figure in Hezbollah since its inception, was reportedly targeted in retaliation for a recent attack in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights that claimed the lives of 12 children and teenagers.
Shukr, also known by the alias Al-Hajj Mohsin, was a senior military figure within Hezbollah and a trusted adviser to the group's leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.The 60-year-old commander was deeply embedded in the group's operations, playing a critical role in both its domestic and regional strategies.
The Israeli military has confirmed a targeted strike against a senior Hezbollah figure in Beirut, and reports from local security sources identify Shukr as the intended target. The attack took place in the Haret Hreik neighborhood, a stronghold of Hezbollah, where Shukr was reportedly stationed at the group's Shura Council headquarters.
Hezbollah sources have described Shukr as an integral part of the group’s leadership structure, particularly after the death of his predecessor, Imad Mughniyeh, in 2008. Mughniyeh was widely regarded as Hezbollah’s military mastermind and was a central figure in the group’s operations.
Shukr’s notoriety extends beyond his Hezbollah role. The United States had placed a bounty of up to $5 million on his head, citing his involvement in the 1983 bombing of the US Marine barracks in Beirut that resulted in the deaths of 241 US personnel. The US Rewards for Justice program described Shukr as a senior commander in Hezbollah’s southern Lebanon operations and a member of its Jihad Council, the highest military body within the group.
In response to Shukr’s alleged involvement in numerous attacks, including those in Syria where Hezbollah supported President Bashar al-Assad during the early years of the Syrian civil war, the US government had escalated its efforts to bring him to justice.
Hezbollah, however, has denied any involvement in the recent Golan Heights attack, labeling Israel’s claims as baseless. The group has also dismissed the accusations against Shukr and fellow operative Talal Hamiyah, branding them as "rejected and void."
The airstrike against Shukr marks a significant moment in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, highlighting the continued volatility in the region. As both sides grapple with the fallout, the situation remains fluid, with potential implications for the broader Middle Eastern geopolitical landscape.