Mohammad Haidar (in Arabic: مُحَمَّد حيدر), also known as Abu Ali Haidar,[1] is a Lebanese politician and a member of the Jihad Council in the Hezbollah organization. Between 2005–2009, he served as a member of the Lebanese Parliament representing Hezbollah.[2][3]
Mohammad Haidar | |
|---|---|
| مُحَمَّد حيدر | |
| Other names | Abu Ali |
| Occupation(s) | Politician Security official |
| Political party |  Hezbollah |
In September 2019, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated Haidar as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, imposing sanctions that freeze his assets under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibit U.S. persons from engaging in transactions with him.[4]
Biography
editHaidar was considered close to Hezbollah's Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah and one of the organization's top leaders. He is responsible for Hezbollah fighters in Syria and for the military-security aspect across all of Southern Lebanon.
According to the Lebanese website "Nidaa Al-Watan," Haidar is considered one of the organization's top military leaders following the assassinations of Imad Mughniyeh in 2008 and Mustafa Badreddine in 2016.[5]
In September 2019, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated Mohammad Haidar as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) under Executive Order 13224. This designation entails freezing all assets under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibits U.S. persons from engaging in transactions with him. The Treasury Department stated that Haidar, as a senior leader within Hezbollah's Jihad Council, was responsible for overseeing the group's military operations and had appointed leaders to various Hezbollah units.[4] This action was part of a broader U.S. strategy to disrupt Hezbollah's financial networks and limit its operational capabilities.[6]
Assassination Attempt
editOn August 25, 2019, Lebanese media reported that two Israeli drones crashed in Beirut's southern Dahieh neighborhood under Hezbollah's control.[7] The Lebanese newspaper Nidaa Al-Watan had previously reported that Israel was planning to assassinate Muhammad Haydar.[7]
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 11 fatalities and left 63 others injured, including women.[8][9][10] Lebanese media indicate that Haydar's fate remains unclear.[11]
References
edit- ^ "דיווח: התקיפה בביירות - נגד מתקן לאחסון רכיבים לדיוק טילים". www.maariv.co.il (in Hebrew). 2019-08-27. Retrieved 2024-11-23.
- ^ "Officer killed in commando operation in Baalbek". ynet. August 19, 2006.
- ^ "Aqil and Shukr eliminated: Which Hezbollah leaders remain in Israel's crosshairs? - analysis". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2024-09-21. Retrieved 2024-11-23.
- ^ a b "Muhammad Haydar". OpenSanctions.org. 1959-11-25. Retrieved 2024-11-23.
- ^ Gabi Schneider (August 27, 2019). "Report: Hezbollah plans a "calculated" response to avoid war". Hidabroot.
- ^ "U.S. Sanctions on Hezbollah to Carry Long-Term Impact in Lebanon, Middle East".
- ^ a b הידיעות, סוכנויות (2019-08-25). "חיזבאללה: שני רחפנים ישראליים התרסקו בדרום ביירות" [Hezbollah: Two Israeli drones crashed in southern Beirut]. Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-11-23.
- ^ "Powerful Israeli airstrike shakes central Beirut". Reuters. 23 November 2024.
- ^ "Casualty numbers grow from Israeli strike on central Beirut". Al Jazeera. 23 November 2024.
A total of 63 people have been injured from the early-morning Israeli strike that slammed into a building in central Beirut's Basta neighbourhood, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry. As we reported earlier, 11 people have been confirmed killed so far. "A large amount of body parts … are being identified," the ministry said in a statement. "The final death toll will be determined after DNA tests are carried out."
- ^ ארי, ליאור בן (2024-11-23). "דיווח: היעד בתקיפה בביירות - ראש מחלקת המבצעים בחיזבאללה". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-11-23.
- ^ "Lebanese media says death toll rises to 11 in Israeli airstrike in central Beirut". The Times Of Israel. November 23, 2024.