There are suggestions that Bazzi earlier had refused to obey orders to withdraw from the town saying that he would "only leave as a martyr". Hezbollah commanders who spoke to Lebanese al-Akhbar a year after the war did not confirm this version of events. According to them the proper place for a commander was with his soldiers on the battlefield. Bazzi and Abu Taam however were criticized for violating military regulations by being at the same place during a battle. The IDF had earlier claimed that Bazzi was killed in Maroun al-Ras several days earlier. Bazzi was succeeded by Muhammad Qanso (Sajid ad-Duwayr), a special forces commander who in turn would be killed by an Israeli airstrike near Beit Yahoun 13 days later.