After Three Soldiers Are Seriously Wounded, IDF Strikes Southern Lebanon and Kills Senior Hezbollah Commander

The IDF launched a wave of strikes in southern Lebanon overnight (between Shabbat and Sunday), in response to a Hezbollah operation against IDF forces in the security zone, in which three soldiers were seriously wounded. At the same time, the military announced the killing of Abu Hassan Alaa, a senior commander in Hezbollah’s Badr Unit, who, according to the IDF, was involved in advancing terrorist operations against forces in the area.

Alaa was struck yesterday in the Deir al-Zahrani area of southern Lebanon. According to the IDF Spokesperson’s announcement, as part of his role in the Badr Unit, he took part in advancing numerous operations against IDF forces operating in the security zone, including the launching of explosive drones at forces in southern Lebanon. The IDF added that in recent years, he commanded several Hezbollah combat sectors targeting IDF forces and Israeli civilians.

Following the strikes, Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a statement this morning saying, “No account in any arena will remain unsettled. We will protect our soldiers and civilians with force.”

The military clarified that his killing was carried out as a direct response to Hezbollah’s most recent operation against forces in the security zone. According to the IDF, the strike on the senior commander damaged the Badr Unit’s command capabilities and follows the killing of Ali Samir al-Hajj Hassan, who served as a battalion commander in the Radwan Force Unit.

Alongside the killing, the wave of strikes in southern Lebanon continued overnight. According to reports, one of the strikes targeted the Ali Taher ridge, where the incident involving IDF forces took place.

Before the strikes, residents along the border were informed that heightened military activity was expected overnight and that sounds of explosions might be heard in the area. The message sent to residents stated: “Overnight, heightened activity by our forces is expected across all sectors - throughout the entire border area and inland. Artillery fire, airstrikes, and explosions. Echoes of explosions will be heard throughout the night across the entire sector.” It also stressed that “there is no change to the situational assessment or to instructions for the civilian area.”

Tonight’s activity follows strikes carried out by the IDF over the weekend in the Nabatieh and Ansar areas. The military said those strikes were also conducted following Hezbollah’s operation against forces on the Ali Taher ridge, located within the security zone controlled by the IDF under the ceasefire agreement.

As part of the strikes in Ansar, a central Hezbollah command post used to direct the organization’s activity in the area was struck. Ali Samir al-Hajj Hassan, a battalion commander in the Radwan Force Unit, was killed in the strike, along with several other operatives who, according to the IDF, were involved in advancing terrorist operations against IDF forces.