IDF claims significant strikes: At least 44 killed in recent attacks on Hezbollah

Israel’s military carried out dozens of strikes on Hezbollah targets early Sunday, as reports surfaced of the assassinations of two more senior Hezbollah commanders following the killing of the militant group's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in a southern Beirut suburb.

As reported by NPR, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the elimination of Nabil Kaouk, head of Hezbollah's preventative security council. Hezbollah has not commented on Kaouk’s status but confirmed the death of another senior commander, Ali Karaki.

Lebanon’s National News Agency reported at least 11 fatalities from the latest Israeli strikes.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cut short his trip to the United Nations, returning to Israel amid preparations for a potential ground invasion into southern Lebanon after reservists were called up to Israel's northern border.

In a Telegram statement, the IDF said it targeted sites housing Hezbollah weapons and military infrastructure. Since Saturday, the Israeli military has reportedly attacked hundreds of Hezbollah locations, particularly in Dahieh, a heavily populated Hezbollah stronghold in southern Beirut.

Hezbollah’s leader’s assassination has sparked mixed reactions across the Middle East. In Istanbul, protesters gathered outside the Israeli Consulate, rallying in solidarity with Palestine and Lebanon.

According to Lebanon's Health Ministry, Israeli airstrikes killed 33 people and wounded 195 on Saturday.

On Sunday, the IDF intercepted eight rockets launched from Lebanon, which struck open areas near Tiberias in northern Israel, adding to fears that the conflict with Hezbollah could escalate into a full-scale war.

Netanyahu defended the killing of Nasrallah as a necessary step to shift the regional balance of power. “Nasrallah was not just a terrorist; he was the terrorist,” Netanyahu said. “Challenging days lie ahead.”

As cross-border hostilities continued, Lebanon’s Information Minister confirmed that ceasefire negotiations with Israel were ongoing. The U.S., France, and the U.K. have all urged for a 21-day ceasefire, though an agreement appears unlikely.

President Joe Biden, when asked about Nasrallah’s killing, called it “a measure of justice” for the victims of his four-decade “reign of terror.” Biden emphasized that Nasrallah had escalated the conflict by aligning with Hamas after the October 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy echoed calls for a ceasefire, while Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati said any ceasefire should extend to both Gaza and Lebanon.

[Information sourced from NPR]