Israeli airstrikes have killed a senior Hamas official in Lebanon while a separate strike in Iraq killed a commander from the Iran-backed militia Kataeb Hezbollah. Lebanese state media reported that the Hamas figure was killed in a targeted drone strike, marking the first reported assassination of a Hamas member since the regional war expanded following the US-Israel strikes on Iran. At the same time, the Tehran-backed militia Kataeb Hezbollah confirmed that one of its commanders was killed in a strike near its base in southern Iraq. The group blamed the attack on Israel and the United States.

The conflict in the Middle East has entered a dangerous new phase as US and Israeli forces intensify their strikes in Qom, Iran, killing hundreds and sparking global concern. President Trump has openly defied Senator Marco Rubio’s warnings, claiming preemptive strike authority to prevent imminent attacks from Tehran. The American and Israeli military campaigns have led to a mounting death toll, with over 787 casualties reported since Saturday, as Tehran launches its fourth consecutive night of retaliatory strikes on US and Israeli assets across West Asia. Amid the escalating violence, the US Navy is being deployed to escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, countering Iranian threats and potential regional oil disruptions. WATCH