The Israeli military said on Tuesday that it had killed a senior Hezbollah commander Hassan Abbas Ezzedine in an air strike in southern Lebanon.
“Earlier today, the IAF (air force) conducted a precise intelligence-based strike in the area of Nabatiyeh in southern Lebanon, eliminating Hassan Abbas Ezzedine, the head of Hezbollah’s aerial array in the Bader regional unit,” the Israeli army said in a statement.
According to the Israeli military, Ezzedine was a key figure in Hezbollah’s drone and rocket operations, which have been used against Israel in recent confrontations. T
The airstrike is the latest in a series of Israeli attacks targeting Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, as tensions between the two sides remain high despite a truce agreement.
Israel has continued to carry out targeted airstrikes in Lebanon following the US-French mediated ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah, which was reached on November 27 after months of conflict. The ceasefire required Hezbollah to withdraw from areas south of the Litani River and dismantle its military infrastructure. However, Israel has maintained its presence in five strategic positions along the border.
On Saturday, an Israeli air strike targeted another Hezbollah militant in southern Lebanon, with Lebanese media reporting one killed and another wounded in what was described as an Israeli drone attack on a car.
Meanwhile, as part of diplomatic efforts to stabilise the region, Israel announced on Tuesday that it had agreed to release five Lebanese citizens detained during its war with Hezbollah.
According to a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, the decision was made in coordination with the United States and France as a “gesture to Lebanon’s new president.”
Israel also strikes Gaza
While the focus remains on the Lebanese front, Israel also continued its military operations in Gaza.
According to the news agency AFP, an Israeli air strike hit Gaza City on Tuesday, killing four men in the Netzarim area, with the civil defence agency stating that the victims included two brothers in their 20s.
The Israeli military justified the strike, stating that it had targeted “several terrorists engaged in suspicious activity posing a threat to IDF troops.” Another airstrike in southern Gaza targeted a militant conducting surveillance activities, the army said.
Despite a fragile ceasefire in Gaza since January 19, Israeli forces have continued launching air raids, citing security threats. Hamas has called for the full implementation of the second phase of the ceasefire, which would lead to a permanent end to the war and a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
However, Israel has instead pushed for an extension of the current ceasefire until mid-April, delaying any permanent resolution to the conflict.
