IDF announces elimination of Hezbollah commander behind murder of 5 American soldiers

The Israel Defense Forces announced the elimination of a senior Hezbollah commander who was accused of orchestrating the 2007 kidnapping and murder of five American soldiers.

The IDF said they killed Hezbollah terrorist Ali Musa Daqduq was killed Friday in a precise strike in southern Lebanon, south of the Litani River.

"ELIMINATED: Ali Musa Daqduq, a senior Hezbollah commander who held a series of 5 senior positions within Hezbollah," the IDF hailed on X. "Daqduq played a central role in advancing terrorist attacks and combat operations against Israel and IDF soldiers. In 2007, he orchestrated the kidnapping and murder of 5 American soldiers."

Israeli officials targeted the veteran Hezbollah operative who held multiple senior roles in the terror organization.

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"His elimination constitutes another significant blow to Hezbollah’s senior chain of command by eliminating one of the most prominent operatives responsible for terrorist activity against Israeli civilians, IDF soldiers, and American servicemembers," the IDF wrote in a statement.

"The IDF will continue to operate against commanders of the Hezbollah terrorist organization."

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Daqduq’s roles included commander of the security unit for eliminated Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, commander in the Radwan Force, commander in the Operations Department of the Nasser Unit, head of Hezbollah’s Infantry Unit and commander of Hezbollah’s "Golan Terrorist Network," according to the IDF.

The Golan network was responsible for Hezbollah’s entrenchment in Syria and the establishment of military infrastructure near Israel’s border. The unit’s activities were exposed by Israel in 2019.

"In recent years, he played a central role in advancing terrorist attacks and combat operations against the State of Israel and IDF soldiers," the IDF said.

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Daqduq also led much of Hezbollah’s operational planning against Israeli troops along the Lebanon border over the past several years, the IDF added.

Daqduq was captured by U.S. forces in Iraq in 2007, but was transferred to Iraqi custody during the U.S. withdrawal in 2011 under former President Barack Obama. Iraqi courts later dismissed charges against him, and Baghdad released him in 2012.

"His elimination constitutes another significant blow to Hezbollah’s senior chain of command by eliminating one of the most prominent operatives responsible for terrorist activity against Israeli civilians, IDF soldiers, and American servicemembers," the IDF said.

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The announcement came as Israel also carried out strikes Sunday in the Dahieh district of Beirut, targeting what the IDF described as Hezbollah infrastructure.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a joint statement that the Beirut strikes were ordered in response to Hezbollah fire toward Israeli territory.

"Israel will not tolerate fire into its territory," they said.

The latest strikes come at a sensitive diplomatic moment, as U.S.-backed efforts continue to finalize a broader regional deal with Iran and President Donald Trump.

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"Bibi should not have done what he did," Trump told Fox News' Middle East correspondent Trey Yingst.

He said to Netanyahu: "What the f--k are you doing?"

Trump told Yingst he hopes the deal with Iran will be signed before the night. He will remove the blockade of Iranian ports immediately once it is signed.

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 Trump will ask Iran not to respond with missiles toward Israel.

A diplomat involved in the talks told Fox News the Beirut strikes were complicating those efforts.

"The strikes today in Beirut are creating issues with finalizing the deal," the diplomat said. "This is a clear attempt by Israel to sabotage the president’s deal and drag the United States back into war."

A senior Israeli official rejected that characterization, telling Fox News that Israel was responding to Hezbollah attacks.

"We reject the notion that Israel is to blame for the exchange of fire," the official said. "Hezbollah attacks have targeted Israeli civilians the past three days."

Fox News' Trey Yingst contributed to this report.