The Media Line: IDF Claims Major Blow Against Hizbullah, Half of Commanders in South Lebanon Killed

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced on Wednesday that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have successfully targeted and eliminated half of Hizbullah’s commanders in southern Lebanon. This statement came during an assessment meeting at the Northern Command headquarters in Safed with Maj. Gen. Ori Gordin and other senior officers.

Gallant emphasized that the IDF’s primary objective is to enable the safe return of the tens of thousands of Israelis displaced by ongoing attacks from Hizbullah. “We are considering various strategies to secure this goal, and the upcoming period will be crucial,” he stated.

The aggressive military campaign included a significant airstrike on the town of Ayta ash-Shab, where approximately 40 Hizbullah positions were struck in a matter of minutes. The IDF used both fighter jets and artillery in this operation, targeting weapons depots and other strategic assets used by Hizbullah for its operations against Israel.

This latest military action follows a pattern of increased tensions along the border, where Hizbullah had earlier targeted the northern Israeli community of Avivim with anti-tank missiles, causing property damage but no injuries. In response, the IDF had conducted overnight strikes against Hizbullah positions in Lebanon, continuing their strategy to degrade the militant group’s capabilities.

The IDF has stated that these operations are part of a broader effort to dismantle Hizbullah’s infrastructure along the border and are not merely reactionary but part of a pre-planned series of strategic moves to ensure regional security.