**Israeli Airstrike in Syria Raises Questions Involving Former Hezbollah Leader**

Recent reports indicate an Israeli airstrike in Syria, though specifics about the location, timing, and intended target remain unclear. Notably, it is uncertain if the strike aimed at Hassan Daqduq, a prominent Hezbollah leader. Both the Pentagon and the Israeli military have yet to provide detailed comments on the incident.

Hassan Daqduq's notoriety stems from his involvement in an elaborate and deadly raid on a U.S.-Iraqi military complex in Karbala on January 20, 2007. During this raid, assailants disguised in U.S. military gear and carrying American weapons deceived security and infiltrated a compound housing joint U.S. and Iraqi forces. The attackers managed to penetrate several checkpoints, approaching a facility where over two dozen U.S. soldiers were stationed.

The militants' coordination was evident as they used grenades and explosives to breach the building's entrance, resulting in the death of one American soldier by grenade. Inside, the assailants captured two U.S. soldiers from the building and two others stationed outside. They swiftly fled the scene in SUVs, only to abandon their vehicles in the face of pursuing U.S. attack helicopters. The militants then executed the four captured soldiers during their escape attempt.

The soldiers who tragically lost their lives were identified as 1st Lt. Jacob Noel Fritz, 25; Capt. Brian Scott Freeman, 31; Pfc. Shawn Patrick Falter, 25; Spc. Johnathan Bryan Chism, 22; and Pfc. Johnathon Miles Millican, 22, who died in the initial grenade attack.

In the aftermath, U.S. officials suspected direct Iranian involvement in the sophisticated raid due to the level of coordination and intelligence demonstrated. Daqduq's capture in March 2007 unveiled the extent of support, revealing that Iran's Quds Force, an elite unit within the Revolutionary Guard, had played a pivotal role in planning and executing the attack. Daqduq himself confirmed that the Quds Force provided direct training and support.

Daqduq's incarceration by the U.S. military in Iraq lasted until December 2011, when he was handed over to Iraqi authorities as the U.S. military mission concluded. Despite assurances from Iraq that Daqduq would face prosecution, he was released within months, sparking outrage among U.S. officials and politicians. Subsequently, Daqduq resumed his leadership role within Hezbollah, continuing to pose a significant threat in the region.