Muhammad Haydar

Mohammad Haidar was elected to the Lebanese Parliament in 2004, representing Hezbollah, and served as a member until 2009.^[5][6] During this time, he was also a senior figure within Hezbollah’s Jihad Council, overseeing military operations and appointing leaders to various units.^[2] Following the assassination of Hezbollah’s international operations chief, Imad Mughniyah, in 2008, Haidar emerged as one of the organization's top military leaders.^[7] His influence further solidified after the death of another key figure, Mustafa Badreddine, in 2016.^[7]

On September 10, 2019, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated Haidar as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under Executive Order 13224.^[2] This designation froze his assets under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibited U.S. persons from engaging in transactions with him.^[2] The U.S. government described Haidar as a pivotal figure in Hezbollah’s military operations, emphasizing his role in maintaining the group’s global networks.^[2] This move was part of a broader strategy to weaken Hezbollah by targeting its leadership and financial infrastructure.^[8]

On August 25, 2019, Lebanese media reported that two Israeli drones crashed in Beirut's southern Dahieh neighborhood under Hezbollah's control.^[9] The Lebanese newspaper Nidaa Al-Watan had previously reported that Israel was planning to assassinate Muhammad Haydar.^[9]

On November 23, 2024, an Israeli airstrike targeted a building in the Basta area of Beirut's Central District. The attack resulted in at least 29 fatalities and left 67 others injured, including women.^[10][11][12] He was reportedly not present in the building.^[13]