The Islamic Group in Lebanon (Al-Jama’a Al-Islamiyya) has confirmed the martyrdom of one of its senior military and academic figures, Dr. Hussein Izzat Atwi, in a treacherous Israeli drone strike that targeted his vehicle as he traveled from Baawarta to Beirut on Tuesday morning.

Dr. Atwi, a respected university professor and a leading commander within the Al-Fajr Forces—the military wing of the Islamic Group—was killed when an Israeli drone fired a missile at his car. The assassination has sparked widespread condemnation and raised further alarm about the continuous and unlawful Israeli aggression against Lebanese sovereignty.

In an official statement, the Islamic Group condemned what it called a blatant act of terrorism and a violation of international law. “We hold the Zionist enemy fully responsible for this cowardly crime. How long will this Zionist aggression continue to jeopardize the security of Lebanon and its people?” the statement read.

This is not the first time Dr. Atwi had been targeted. In January 2024, he narrowly survived a previous Israeli assassination attempt on the road to Kawkaba in southern Lebanon, underscoring Tel Aviv’s persistent efforts to eliminate key figures in the Lebanese and Palestinian resistance fronts.

The latest strike is part of an escalating Israeli campaign of targeted killings against Resistance leaders across the region. Just two days earlier, another Israeli drone strike struck a civilian vehicle near Kawthriyat al-Siyad, resulting in the martyrdom of one and injuries to two others.

Observers and analysts warn that these repeated aggressions threaten to ignite a wider conflict and are in direct violation of the ceasefire understanding brokered between Lebanon and Israel.

Dr. Atwi’s martyrdom has sparked mourning across Lebanon’s Resistance circles and Islamic political community. He is remembered not only as a devoted commander but also as a scholar committed to the upliftment of his people through education and steadfastness.

The funeral of Sheikh Hussein Atwi is expected to draw large crowds, with leaders of various Lebanese and Palestinian factions paying tribute to his legacy of resistance, knowledge, and sacrifice. (ILKHA)