HEZBOLLAH leader Hussein Yazbek has been killed in an Israeli air strike in southern Lebanon, the terrorist group has confirmed.
At least three more people - said to be Yazbek's bodyguards - are reportedly dead in the strike that hit a building in Naqoura city.
Hussein Yazbek was killed amid a cross-border fire from Israel, it has been understood.
Hezbollah has been exchanging near-daily fire with Israel across Lebanon's southern border since the war began in Gaza.
The second strike comes just hours after Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Arouri was killed in Beirut by an alleged Israeli drone strike.
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Explosions caused by the drone strike shook the Lebanese capital’s southern suburbs, which are strongholds of Hezbollah
It the most deadly and formidable terrorist group in the world - and they have been backing Hamas in their horror attacks on Israel.
Arouri had close links with Hezbollah who have condemned the death of the Hamas leader.
And his assassination in Hezbollah's stronghold is being seen as a cause for an all-out war in Middle East.
In a televised speech in August, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah had warned Israel against carrying out any assassinations on Lebanese soil, vowing a "severe reaction".
Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati described the killing as a war crime aimed at Lebanon to drag them deeper into the conflict.
As Izzat Al-Rishq - a member of the Hamas Political bureau - called it a "cowardly assassination by the Zionist occupation".
Israel has not officially claimed responsibility for the attack.
But it did insist the assassination should not be seen as an attack on Lebanon, as its enemies warned of "punishment" for his death.
The second strike in Lebanon and directly on a Hezbollah leader could see a major escalation of conflict in Middle East.
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Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah earlier today warned there would be "no ceilings" and "no rules" to Hezbollah's fighting if Israel launched attacks on Lebanon.
Despite Hezbollah threatening to retaliate, they haven't started to make any moves yet, according to the countries government official Abdallah Bou Habib.
Mr Habib said it would become clear in the next 24 hours if Hezbollah are planning to respond as he voiced his concerns over a potential deadlier war breaking out as Lebanon try to calm down the groups irate leaders.
"We are very concerned. [The] Lebanese don't want to be dragged, even Hezbollah does not want to be dragged into a regional war," he said.
The war against Hamas in Gaza has now engulfed a major part of Middle East - with Iran-backed Houthis, Lebanon, and Hezbollah turning up against Israel.
France and the United Nations and have warned Israel of a potential all-out war in the region.
Earlier today, the US said it remains "incredibly concerned" about the risk of the conflict in Gaza broadening into a major regional conflict.
