Mohammad Raad, Nasrallah's Former Spokesperson, Killed in Israeli Strikes on Lebanon

Mohammad Raad, head of Hezbollah’s parliamentary faction, has been killed in Israeli airstrikes that targeted Beirut and parts of southern Lebanon, according to multiple reports. The senior figure was considered among the group’s most prominent remaining political leaders in the region. His death marks a significant escalation in the ongoing hostilities between Israel and the Iran-backed militant organisation.

Raad had long been a key figure within Hezbollah’s political structure and had reportedly served multiple times as a personal spokesperson for the group’s late leader, Hassan Nasrallah. Officials familiar with the group’s hierarchy described him as one of the most influential figures in southern Lebanon. There was no immediate independent confirmation of the strike’s precise circumstances or casualty details.

The Israeli military said it launched attacks across Lebanon in response to projectiles fired by Hezbollah earlier. In a statement, Israel said its forces began striking “targets of the Hezbollah terrorist organisation” after rockets and drones were launched towards Israeli territory. The exchange marks a sharp deterioration in the fragile security situation along the Israel-Lebanon frontier.

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Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the earlier barrage, saying it acted in retaliation for the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, and in defence of Lebanon. Israeli authorities said at least one projectile was intercepted, while others landed in open areas, causing no immediate reports of major damage. Independent verification of battlefield claims from either side remains limited.

Residents in Beirut reported panic as strikes began around 2:40 am, with many fleeing on foot or by car, leading to heavy congestion on major roads. Ambulances and emergency teams were seen moving towards impacted neighbourhoods. Authorities have not yet released a consolidated casualty toll from the overnight strikes.

The latest exchange is the first major Hezbollah-claimed attack on Israel since the November 2024 ceasefire that had aimed to end more than a year of conflict. Despite the agreement, Israel has continued periodic strikes in Lebanon, saying they targeted militant infrastructure. Analysts warn that Raad’s reported killing could further inflame regional tensions already heightened by the broader Iran-Israel confrontation.

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