Killing of Hezbollah commander in Lebanon fuels fear Israel-Hamas war could expand outside Gaza

The Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah confirmed Monday that one of its senior commanders, Wissam al-Taweel, was killed in southern Lebanon. Three security sources told the Reuters news agency he and another operative were killed when their car was hit by an Israeli strike.

"This is a very painful strike," one of the sources told Reuters, while another alluded to long-simmering concerns that the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza could ignite another conflict on Israel's northern border, saying: "Things will flare up now."

The Israel Defense Forces did not immediately comment on al-Taweel's death.