Israel Kills Hezbollah Communications Chief Tied to Pager Blast Intelligence Lapse

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) killed Mohammad Rashid Sakafi, responsible for Hezbollah's communication networks, on Thursday in a precise, intelligence-based strike near Beirut.

Several Hezbollah-linked social media accounts reported that Sakafi, the communications chief, had previously been blamed for not being aware of bomb-loaded pagers that killed approximately 800 operatives.

Sakafi, a senior Hezbollah operative, had been in charge of the communications unit since 2000. His work within the unit earned him respect, and his position made him closely affiliated with other senior Hezbollah members.

In his role, Sakafi focused on enhancing communication capabilities between Hezbollah's units during all operational phases to maintain the flow of information within the organization.

The communications unit is responsible for ensuring the continuous flow of information and for developing, maintaining, and using communication networks during both routine and emergency operations.