Israel’s Defense Minister announced that Tel Aviv has taken out half of Hezbollah’s commanders in southern Lebanon in cross-border fighting.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant today visited the Northern Command of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the unit responsible for operations in the border areas of Lebanon and Syria, in the city of Safed. He met with the head of the Northern Command, Major General Ori Gorder, and other senior officers to assess the situation.
“Half of the Hezbollah commanders in southern Lebanon have been defeated, the other half are in hiding and had to leave southern Lebanon for the IDF to operate,” the Israeli Defense Minister said.
He said Israel’s main goal in the north is to bring tens of thousands of evacuated Israelis home, amid daily fighting between the country’s army and Hezbollah. “The next stage will be decisive on this issue,” he emphasized.
Hezbollah has not yet responded to the above information.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant (right) and commander of the Northern Command, Major General Ori Gorder in Safed city on April 24. Image: Israeli Ministry of Defense
Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has taken place almost daily since the conflict in the Gaza Strip broke out in October 2023. Hezbollah announced its action in support of Hamas, the group’s ally in the Iran-backed “axis of resistance” against Tel Aviv and the West.
Clashes between the two sides left 380 people dead in Lebanon, including at least 72 civilians. Israel said 11 soldiers and 8 civilians died after raids by armed groups.
On April 23, Hezbollah announced that it had conducted a coordinated attack using suicide drones and decoys against two Israeli military bases north of the city of Arce. The IDF later claimed to have downed three drones in the waters off the city, none of its facilities were hit.
This is Hezbollah’s deepest attack on Israeli territory since the outbreak of fighting in the Gaza Strip last October. The attack was conducted in response to Israel’s killing of a gunman from the group.
Location of Lebanon and Israel. Graphics: CNN
Huyen Le (According to Reuters, Times of Israel)
