IDF kills Hamas leader in Lebanon, while first strike in central Beirut kills PFLP leader

Crossing another one of Hezbollah’s “red lines,” for the first time in this war the IDF attacked a target in central Beirut, killing the leader of the Hamas branch in Lebanon in another overnight strike.

As the IDF’s furious onslaught on terror targets in Lebanon continued, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) carried out two unusual strikes on Sunday night.

For the first time, Israel widened its attacks in the Lebanese capital of Beirut, where until now, the IDF had only struck in the southern Dahiyeh district. This is Hezbollah’s main stronghold in the country, and a neighborhood mainly populated by Shiite Muslims.

The strike killed the leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) in Lebanon, a once-feared terror group that has lost significance in recent years.

Its members took part in Hamas’ Oct. 7 massacres in southern Israel and joined Hezbollah in Lebanon in the active fighting against Israel.

Tonight’s Israeli Airstrike on the Lebanese Capital of Beirut is quite Unusual. Unlike previous Strikes that we have seen on the City, this one was not on the Southern Suburbs but instead on a Neighborhood near the Downtown Commercial District; in addition, the Targets of the… pic.twitter.com/4qMbkwVyH7

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) September 30, 2024

Footage shown on Lebanese TV showed one heavily damaged floor in a building in the Kola district, most of whose residents are Sunni Muslims.

The PFLP said its military security chief, Mohammad Abdel-Aal, Military Commander Imad Odeh and another Hezbollah operative, Abdelrahman Abdel-Aal, were also victims of the attack.

The IDF stated that the strike killed Nidal Abdal-Aal, the leader of the PFLP's Lebanon branch. It wasn't immediately clear if he is the military security chief whose death the terror group acknowledged.

Abdel-Aal directed the attempted bombing of a bus in Beitar Illit in March and a shooting at a car near Huwara the same month, the IDF added.

Another significant overnight strike in the city of Tyre killed Fatah Sharif Abu al-Amin, the commander of Hamas’s branch in Lebanon.

Hamas announced the death of Abu al-Amin, identifying him as its leader in Lebanon and a member of its foreign leadership. The IDF later confirmed his death, stating he was responsible for coordination with Hezbollah as well as the strengthening of Hamas both militarily and politically.

Exposed: UNRWA leaders linked to Hamas & Al Qaida

Meet Fathi Abu Amin al-Sharif, head of UNRWA teachers Union in Lebanon.

Here he is (left) with Abu Tariq, deputy chief of Asbat al-Ansar, listed as a terrorist group even by the UN itself.https://t.co/Uu1MBRlZxu 🧵 pic.twitter.com/G8RjRgQ914

— Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) June 20, 2024

Abu al-Amin also served as chairman of Lebanon's UNRWA (UN Relief and Works Agency) teacher's association. Earlier this year, he was suspended from this position when the agency began investigating possible terrorist connections among its employees.

Following popular protests and a boycott of UNRWA bureaus, Abu al-Amin was reinstated as the teacher’s union head, according to the Lebanese al-Ahbar newspaper.

Faites semblant d'être surpris :
Le chef du #Hamas au #Liban a été éliminé. Fateh Sharif Abu Al-Amin était aussi... à la tête d'un syndicat d'enseignants de l'UNRWA.

La fameuse agence de l'#ONU pour les réfugiés palestiniens que l'Europe continue de défendre malgré son… pic.twitter.com/0wmjUMTFit

— Julien Bahloul (@julienbahloul) September 30, 2024

On Monday morning, media reports suggested the IDF had once again struck in the Dahiyeh district. At the time of publication, the target of the strike was unknown.

In addition to the targeted eliminations, on Monday morning, the IDF announced it had struck dozens of Hezbollah targets within two hours, including rocket launchers and weapons depots.

“The IDF will continue to attack powerfully, damage and degrade Hezbollah’s military capabilities and infrastructure in Lebanon,” the army stated.

Another wave of airstrikes on Sunday evening targeted more rocket launchers, weapon warehouses and military buildings across Lebanon.