A senior commander of Hezbollah, identified as Ali Ahmed Hassin, was killed in an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) airstrike in southern Lebanon. Hassin, a field commander of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan force, was targeted on Sunday night as part of the IDF’s operations against figures they accuse of conducting terror operations against Israel.
The IDF confirmed that the strike was aimed at a property in the town of as-Sultaniyah in southern Lebanon, resulting in the death of Hassin along with two other operatives under his command. Hassin, described by the IDF as holding a rank equivalent to a brigade commander, was implicated in planning and executing attacks against Israeli civilians, particularly in the northern regions of Israel. These attacks included efforts to infiltrate Israel and conduct operations in the Ramim Ridge area, which has seen repeated rocket, missile, and explosive-laden drone fire amid the ongoing conflict.
This operation marks a continuation of the intense conflict that has unfolded following a Hamas terror attack on Israel on October 7, leading to a broader confrontation involving Hezbollah and Israeli forces. According to Israeli sources, the past six months have seen the deaths of more than 30 Hezbollah commanders and 270 fighters due to Israeli airstrikes. In contrast, Hezbollah’s rocket fire has resulted in the deaths of approximately a dozen Israeli soldiers and several civilians, alongside widespread displacement of civilians on both sides of the border.
The IDF’s actions, including the strike on Hassin, are part of a broader campaign against Hezbollah and its positions in southern Lebanon, which has included targeting military compounds, command centers, and rocket launchers associated with the group. This campaign has significantly impacted Hezbollah’s operational capabilities, though the group continues to launch attacks against Israeli targets.
Following the airstrike that killed Hassin, Hezbollah acknowledged his death, stating he was killed “on the road to Jerusalem,” a term the group uses for operatives slain in Israeli strikes. The IDF has reported that Hezbollah, in retaliation, has continued its attacks on northern Israel, including the launch of an explosive-laden drone near Rosh Hanikra, which caused a small fire but no reported injuries. Hezbollah claimed this attack targeted an Israeli naval base in the area.
This ongoing conflict has seen extensive military engagements, with Hezbollah launching thousands of rockets, missiles, and drones from Lebanon and Syria at northern Israel. The IDF has responded with widespread airstrikes against Hezbollah positions, leading to significant casualties and further heightening tensions in the region. This escalation comes amid broader regional tensions, including an alleged Israeli strike in Damascus that killed members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and statements from Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah indicating a planned response to Israeli actions.
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