The Israeli military on Wednesday confirmed it carried out a drone strike in Sidon, southern Lebanon, killing Khalid Ahmad Ahmad—a senior Hamas operative identified as the head of operations for the group’s Western Brigade in Lebanon. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that Ahmad was involved in arms smuggling and orchestrating attacks against Israel.
The strike marks a significant development in Israel’s cross-border operations and reflects growing regional volatility amid the ongoing conflict with Hamas. According to Hamas, Ahmad—whom it described as a lead engineer—was killed while en route to dawn prayers, in what it denounced as an assassination.
The targeted killing in Lebanon, a country already strained by internal political and economic challenges, raises concerns of broader regional destabilization as hostilities between Israel and Iranian-backed groups expand beyond Gaza.
Since late November, a fragile ceasefire has been in place between Israel and Hezbollah, the Hamas-allied militia in Lebanon, but both sides accuse each other of violations.
In spite of the ceasefire, Israel reserves the right to continue attacking militia targets in Lebanon.
