Israeli Drone Strike Kills Hamas Military Leader in Lebanon \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ An Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon on Monday killed Mohammad Shaheen, Hamas’ head of military operations in Lebanon. The attack comes as Israel confirms it will delay withdrawing troops from five strategic locations in southern Lebanon, despite the ceasefire agreement that ended the 14-month war with Hezbollah. Lebanon’s government strongly opposes the delay. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, protests continue in Israel over 500 days of war, and Netanyahu’s testimony in his criminal trial was postponed again.
Israel-Lebanon Tensions: Quick Looks
- Israeli Drone Strike Kills Hamas Commander: Mohammad Shaheen, Hamas’ head of military operations in Lebanon, was killed in an Israeli drone strike on Monday.
- Israel Delays Lebanon Withdrawal: Despite the ceasefire agreement, Israel will keep forces in five strategic locations in southern Lebanon, citing security concerns.
- Lebanon Rejects Israeli Troop Presence: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun insists that Israel must fully withdraw, warning that the ceasefire must be respected.
- U.S. Diplomatic Efforts: Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, but no agreement was reached on Gaza’s future.
- Protests in Israel Over Hostages: Demonstrators marked 500 days of war, urging faster hostage release negotiations and government action.
- Netanyahu’s Criminal Trial Postponed Again: The Israeli prime minister’s testimony was delayed for “security reasons”, further stalling his corruption trial.
- Lebanon Extends Iran Flight Ban: Lebanon continues blocking flights to and from Iran, amid Israeli claims that Iran is smuggling money to Hezbollah.
- Ceasefire in Jeopardy: With Israel refusing full withdrawal, Hezbollah protests escalating, and hostages still in captivity, the fragile truce remains at risk.
Deep Look
Israeli Drone Strike Kills Senior Hamas Commander
An Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon on Monday killed Mohammad Shaheen, the head of Hamas’ military operations in Lebanon, according to the Israeli military.
Israel accused Shaheen of orchestrating attacks from Lebanese territory and receiving Iranian funding for planned operations against Israel. Hamas confirmed his death but described him as a military commander, without addressing Israel’s claims about his role in planning attacks.
The strike adds to rising regional tensions as Israel and Hezbollah navigate the ceasefire agreement that ended their 14-month conflict. It also comes just one day before Israel’s scheduled troop withdrawal from southern Lebanon, which Israel now says will not be fully implemented on time.
Israel Delays Lebanon Withdrawal, Lebanon Rejects Extension
Under the November ceasefire agreement, Israel agreed to withdraw troops from southern Lebanon by Tuesday, February 20. However, Israeli officials have confirmed that their forces will remain in five strategic locations along the border.
Israeli military spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani said the decision was made to ensure “civilian security” and was approved by a U.S.-led monitoring body overseeing the ceasefire.
Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun strongly opposes any delay in Israel’s withdrawal, stating:
“The Israeli enemy cannot be trusted. We are working diplomatically to achieve complete Israeli withdrawal, and I will not accept that a single Israeli remains on Lebanese territory.”
The buffer zone in southern Lebanon is supposed to be patrolled by the Lebanese army and U.N. peacekeepers once Israeli forces leave. However, Israeli officials argue that Hezbollah’s presence remains a security concern.
U.S. Diplomatic Efforts: Rubio Meets Saudi Crown Prince
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Saudi Arabia and met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss Gaza’s future and ongoing Middle East tensions.
Rubio’s visit comes amid controversy over U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to resettle Gaza’s Palestinian population elsewhere and place Gaza under U.S. oversight—a plan rejected by Palestinians and Arab nations.
While the State Department emphasized U.S. commitment to the ceasefire, Saudi officials gave a more vague response, merely stating that both sides “discussed regional security and stability.”
Protests in Israel Mark 500 Days of War
Across Israel, protesters gathered to mark 500 days of the Gaza war, demanding that the government speed up negotiations to secure the release of hostages still held in Gaza.
Iair Horn, one of three Israeli hostages released on Saturday, addressed a rally in Tel Aviv, saying:
“The hostages don’t have time. They must be brought back now.”
Other demonstrations took place in Jerusalem, where relatives of hostages expressed fear for their loved ones’ safety as negotiations for the next phase of hostage exchanges stall.
Netanyahu’s Criminal Trial: Testimony Postponed Again
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was set to testify this week in his ongoing corruption trial, where he faces charges of fraud, breach of trust, and bribery. However, the court granted another postponement after his legal team argued that Israel’s current security crisis required his full attention.
Netanyahu’s testimony has been postponed multiple times since December, citing health reasons and government responsibilities. His lawyers also requested to reduce his weekly testimony schedule, though the court has yet to rule on that request.
Lebanon Extends Iran Flight Ban Amid Hezbollah Protests
Lebanon has extended its suspension of flights to and from Iran, citing Israeli security threats and concerns about smuggling operations linked to Hezbollah.
Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem accused Israel of threatening to strike Beirut’s airport if an Iranian plane landed, prompting the Lebanese government to block the flight last week.
The situation has sparked protests at Beirut’s international airport, where Hezbollah supporters have blocked roads and clashed with Lebanese security forces. On Friday, a U.N. peacekeeping commander was injured when demonstrators attacked a convoy transporting peacekeepers.
Lebanon’s outgoing prime minister, Nawaf Salam, said the country’s decision to block Iranian flights was based on security concerns and that efforts were underway to return stranded Lebanese citizens from Tehran.
Final Thoughts: Regional Tensions at a Breaking Point
Israel’s targeted killing of Hamas commander Mohammad Shaheen, coupled with its delayed withdrawal from Lebanon, has heightened fears of renewed conflict.
Lebanon strongly opposes any delay in Israeli withdrawal, and Hezbollah’s ongoing protests over Iran’s blocked flights add another layer of instability to the fragile ceasefire.
Meanwhile, in Gaza, hostage negotiations remain stalled, fueling public frustration in Israel. With U.S. diplomacy failing to gain traction, and Trump’s controversial Gaza proposal adding to the uncertainty, the region remains on edge as leaders navigate the next steps.
The coming weeks will determine whether the ceasefire holds—or if the region slides back into full-scale war.
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