Hezbollah Intel Chief Killed in Israeli Strike, Lebanon Bans Group’s Military Activities

Israel killed Hussein Makled, the head of Hezbollah’s intelligence arm, in an overnight strike on Beirut, Lebanon, on Monday, March 2, 2026. In response, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced a ban on Hezbollah’s military activities, hours after the Iran-backed organization launched rockets and drones at Israel, prompting significant Israeli retaliatory strikes.

IDF Confirms Strike on Hezbollah Intelligence Head

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the strike in the Lebanese capital, identifying Hussein Makled as “the head of Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters.” According to the IDF, Makled was responsible for gathering intelligence on IDF troops and the State of Israel, and for coordinating terror attacks. [Source: The Times of Israel]

“He also closely cooperated with senior commanders in Hezbollah who planned and advanced terror attacks against Israel and its citizens,” the IDF added. [Source: The Times of Israel]

Retaliation for Khamenei’s Killing and Further Strikes

Hezbollah stated its attacks were in retaliation for the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during the joint Israeli-US assault on Iran on Saturday. [Source: The Times of Israel] This led to waves of Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon, including in the capital, Beirut. A separate strike in southern Beirut killed Adham al-Othman, 41, a senior commander in Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s al-Quds Brigades. [Source: The Times of Israel]

Following the initial strikes, the IDF carried out a wide wave of airstrikes across southern Lebanon, issuing evacuation warnings to Lebanese civilians. Approximately 70 Hezbollah weapon depots and rocket launching sites were targeted. The IDF also struck branches of the Al-Qard al-Hasan association, alleging it is used by Hezbollah for financial and logistical support, including funding from Iran and weapons procurement. [Source: The Times of Israel]

Lebanon’s Response: Banning Military Activities

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced a ban on all Hezbollah’s military and security activities, restricting the group’s role to the political sphere. [Source: Al Jazeera] Salam stated that any military actions launched from Lebanese territory outside the framework of legitimate institutions are rejected, and affirmed that the decision of war and peace rests solely with the Lebanese state. [Source: Al Jazeera]

Hezbollah responded to the Lebanese government’s decision with condemnation, criticizing what it called “swaggering decisions” and expressing disappointment that Beirut did not reject the Israeli aggression. [Source: The Times of Israel]

Escalation and Potential for Wider Conflict

The recent escalation follows a warning from Prime Minister Salam on Saturday that Lebanon would not be drawn into war, and a reiteration by President Joseph Aoun on Sunday that the decision of war and peace rests solely with the Lebanese state. [Source: The Times of Israel]

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir stated that the military “insists” that Hezbollah be disarmed and that the offensive will continue until “the threat is removed.” [Source: The Times of Israel] He added that the IDF’s offensive plans against Hezbollah “have been ready for a long time, and we will seize the opportunity.” [Source: The Times of Israel]

Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Hezbollah’s chief Naim Qassem is now “a marked target for elimination,” threatening to send him “to the depths of hell” like Iran’s Khamenei. [Source: The Times of Israel]

Additional Attacks and Displacement

In addition to the attacks in Lebanon, an overnight attack on a British airbase on Cyprus, likely carried out by Hezbollah, damaged the runway. [Source: The Times of Israel] Lebanese authorities have opened displacement shelters in Beirut, the south, and Mount Lebanon, anticipating further conflict. [Source: The Times of Israel]

The Lebanese health ministry reported at least 31 people killed in the Israeli strikes since Monday morning, without differentiating between civilians and Hezbollah members. [Source: Al Jazeera]