Kataib Hezbollah confirms death of security commander Abu Ali al-Askari — second senior KH leader killed

Kataib Hezbollah's secretary-general Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi announced the death of Abu Ali al-Askari — the group's security commander and media spokesperson — in a statement released in the early hours of Tuesday March 17, Iraq local time. Al-Hamidawi praised al-Askari's role in 'communicating the group's positions and messages during periods of confrontation' and described him as 'a link between fighters on the ground and the group's media platforms.' Kataib Hezbollah did not specify the circumstances of al-Askari's death, nor did it formally accuse any party or link the killing to the recent series of airstrikes targeting PMF headquarters in Iraqi provinces. Abu Mujahid al-Assaf, the group's security official, was named as al-Askari's replacement. Al-Askari's death is the second confirmed killing of a prominent Kataib Hezbollah leader since the conflict began — following the March 14 killing of Abu Ali al-Amiri in an overnight airstrike. The NYT described al-Askari as 'one of its senior commanders' and confirmed the announcement was released 'early Tuesday local time.' The group's refusal to confirm the cause reflects operational security discipline amid sustained US and Israeli targeting of PMF leadership networks.