Sheikh Muhammad Ali Hammadi, a senior Hezbollah official, was assassinated on Tuesday afternoon in the town of Machghara, located in Lebanon’s Western Bekaa region. The attack, which involved unidentified gunmen, has raised questions about the motive behind the killing.

According to security sources, Hammadi was standing outside his home when assailants in two vehicles opened fire. The Hezbollah commander sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was rushed to a hospital in the nearby town of Sohmor. Despite medical efforts, Hammadi succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival.

The Lebanese Army responded swiftly by cordoning off the area and setting up fixed and mobile checkpoints across the Western Bekaa. A large-scale manhunt is underway to apprehend the attackers. Meanwhile, security forces have launched an investigation to determine the circumstances and motives of the killing.

While no group or individual has claimed responsibility for the assassination, local media outlets have offered differing accounts of the possible motives. Some reports suggest the attack may have been linked to a longstanding family feud that dates back four years, a theory yet to be officially confirmed. Others point to Hammadi’s controversial past as a potential factor.

Hammadi was a prominent figure within Hezbollah and reportedly served as the commander of the group’s operations in the western Bekaa region. He was also a fugitive on the FBI’s most-wanted list for decades due to his involvement in the 1985 hijacking of Lufthansa Flight 847. During the incident, an American service member was tortured and killed, making Hammadi a notorious figure in international law enforcement circles.

Hezbollah has yet to issue an official statement regarding the assassination.

Notably, the assassination occurred just before the end of the 60-day period stipulated in the ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel, raising questions about potential involvement by Israel’s Mossad. Speculation has emerged about whether Mossad might have orchestrated the attack by activating its operatives within the Shiite community, and whether further assassinations targeting Hezbollah officials might follow under the guise of retaliatory actions.