Wissam Hassan Tawil held several senior positions in the Iranian-backed Lebanese militia. He is the highest-ranking Hezbollah member to be killed since Israel launched a war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip on October 7.

This photo, published by Hezbollah's media department, is supposed to show Hezbollah leader Wissam al-Tawil, who was killed in an Israeli attack in South Lebanon. Photo: AP/NTP

– This attack is very painful, says an unnamed security source.

In total, 135 Hezbollah fighters have been killed in Israeli attacks in Lebanon so far. In addition, more than 20 civilians were killed, including three journalists, according to the Agence France-Presse summary.

The commander is said to have had a leadership role in Hezbollah's operations in southern Lebanon, an area bordering northern Israel.

Earlier on Monday, it was reported that Israel carried out air strikes with helicopters and drones on the southern part of Lebanon.

Hezbollah is allied with Iran and the Palestinian Hamas movement. After Israel killed a senior Hamas political leader in a missile attack on the Lebanese capital Beirut last week, fears of the war spreading have increased.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah warned that the group would respond to the attack, and the group claimed responsibility for an attack on an Israeli air defense base the next day.