Photo Ali Khamenei, Hassan Nasrallah and Qassem Soleimani Photo: khamenei.ir Wikimedia CC BY 4.0
The Mossad and Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continue to rack up victories, taking out senior terrorist leaders in both Hamas and Hezbollah.
The recent military offensive in Lebanon has significantly escalated tensions, with a concentrated focus on Hezbollah as part of a broader campaign to decimate the group’s leadership amid ongoing conflicts with Hamas.
This operation marks Israel’s first ground incursion in Lebanon since 2006. Meanwhile, several northern Israeli communities have been declared closed military zones, and Lebanese forces are retreating from southern positions.
Backed by real-time intelligence, the IDF has executed precise airstrikes and additional security measures, preparing for a larger invasion to dismantle Hezbollah’s infrastructure, particularly targeting their elite Radwan forces.
In recent weeks, Israel has successfully eliminated several high-ranking members of Hezbollah, including their long-time leader Hassan Nasrallah and Nabil Kaouk, the deputy head of Hezbollah’s Central Council.
Israel has decimated the Hezbollah leadership in a matter of weeks.
Alongside them, key figures like Ibrahim Aliq, who headed Hezbollah’s operations division and served on its Jihad Council, were also killed. These targeted assassinations represent a significant blow to Hezbollah’s leadership structure.
Despite these losses, Hezbollah has pledged to continue its operations, with deputy leader Naim Kassem stepping in as acting leader until a new successor is chosen.
Since the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel, Hezbollah has launched approximately 9,000 missiles into Israel, killing 49 Israelis and displacing 63,000. In response, Israel’s recent offensive into Lebanon serves as both retaliation for these ongoing attacks and past terrorist actions, while also acting as a preventive measure to protect its citizens and restore border stability.
Israeli intelligence revealed that Ibrahim Aliq was the architect of Hezbollah’s “Plan to Conquer the Galilee,” which aimed to infiltrate Israeli territory and carry out mass attacks similar to the October 7th massacre.
With Aliq and several Radwan Force commanders now eliminated, the likelihood of such an invasion has diminished.
Hassan Nasrallah led Hezbollah for over 30 years, during which time the group ramped up its anti-Israel and anti-U.S. rhetoric.
Under his leadership, Hezbollah was linked to major terrorist acts, such as the bombings of U.S. embassies in the 1980s, which resulted in over 80 deaths, and the 34-day war with Israel in 2006.
Nasrallah forged strong ties with Iran and other militant groups, significantly increasing Hezbollah’s influence in Lebanon. He also transformed Hezbollah into a dominant political force, giving the group substantial control over Lebanese politics.
Additionally, Nasrallah involved Hezbollah in Syria’s civil war, supporting President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
The strike that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah also took the life of Ali Karki, the group’s new military chief and commander of its southern front. Additionally, Mohamed Ali Ismail, head of Hezbollah’s missile unit in southern Lebanon, was eliminated.
Separate strikes also claimed the lives of Muhammad Hussein Sarour, Hezbollah’s air force commander, and Ibrahim Muhammad Qabisi, leader of the Rocket and Missile Force.
These operations were part of Israel’s “Northern Arrows” campaign. Other key figures, including Ibrahim Aqil, a Jihad Council member, and Fuad Shukr, Hezbollah’s top military leader, were also targeted, delivering major blows to the Iran-backed group.
Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have so far killed over 1,000 people, including numerous civilians, and displaced up to a million people. In response, Iran, Hezbollah’s key supporter, has vowed retaliation, raising fears of further escalation in the region.
However, there is speculation that Iran may prioritize maintaining its influence in Lebanon over immediate revenge for the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
Hezbollah’s collapse could destabilize Lebanon, risking civil war as various militias may seize the opportunity to exploit the power vacuum.
Despite initial concerns about Hezbollah’s ability to strike major Israeli cities like Haifa, the group’s retaliation has been far less effective than expected. Israel has systematically targeted key Hezbollah leaders and destroyed critical weapons systems, weakening the group’s capacity to launch significant attacks.
Tensions remain high as both sides brace for the next phase of conflict. Israel is preparing for further incursions, while it remains uncertain if Iran and Hezbollah will follow through on their threats of retaliation, or how impactful that response might be.
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