Zakaria Yahya Hajj, senior Hezbollah commander, assassinated by 'Israeli' forces.

Hajj accused of threatening 'Israel’s' security and working within Lebanese institutions.

 

The 'Israeli' army claimed on Sunday that it had bombed and assassinated Zakaria Yahya Hajj, a senior Hezbollah commander, in the Jouaiyya area of southern Lebanon.

 

In a statement, the army said Hajj was involved in activities that posed a direct threat to 'Israel’s' security, describing his actions as a “blatant violation” of existing understandings between 'Israel' and Lebanon.

 

- Alleged roles and activities -

According to the military, Hajj was responsible for activating agents within the Lebanese security apparatus and exerting influence to suppress critics and opponents of Hezbollah. The army described this as evidence of his deep involvement in official Lebanese institutions.

 

The statement added that Hezbollah cells in southern Lebanon were participating in activities including re-establishing infrastructure sites, arms smuggling, and maintaining communications between local residents and the group’s central leadership.

 

- Ongoing operations -

The targeting of Hajj is part of a series of 'Israeli' operations in southern Lebanon since last October, which have killed around 40 Hezbollah members in roughly 30 locations. The operations were conducted under the Northern Command, with the Directorate of Military Intelligence and the 'Israeli' Air Force.