In a significant escalation of tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border, Israel announced on Tuesday that it had killed a senior Hezbollah militant responsible for the group’s drone and missile operations. The targeted strike, which took place in southern Lebanon, came even as Israel released Lebanese prisoners in what it described as a “goodwill gesture” to Lebanon’s new president.
The Israeli military confirmed that its air force conducted a “precise intelligence-based strike” in the Nabatieh area, targeting Hassan Abbas Ezzedine, the head of Hezbollah’s aerial array in the Bader regional unit. Ezzedine was reportedly a key figure in Hezbollah’s drone and missile programs, which have been a growing concern for Israel in recent years.
“Earlier today, the IAF (air force) conducted a precise intelligence-based strike in the area of Nabatieh in southern Lebanon, eliminating Hassan Abbas Ezzedine, the head of Hezbollah’s aerial array in the Bader regional unit,” the Israeli military said in a statement.
In a separate operation on the same day, Israeli forces carried out a second strike in the Froun area, targeting what it described as a Hezbollah site. “Several terrorists were identified in a site used by Hezbollah in the area of Froun in southern Lebanon,” the military said. “An IAF aircraft struck the suspects.”
Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported that two people were killed in the Israeli strikes. According to the NNA, an Israeli drone strike targeted a car on the Deir El-Zahrani road, resulting in one fatality. A second person was reportedly killed in an air strike on a vehicle in the Froun area.
The strikes come despite a ceasefire agreement reached on November 27, which largely ended more than a year of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. The conflict had escalated into a two-month full-scale war, during which Israeli ground troops crossed into Lebanese territory. While the truce has brought a measure of calm, Israel has continued to carry out periodic strikes in Lebanon, arguing that they are necessary to prevent Hezbollah from rearming or re-establishing a presence along the border.
Israel’s actions have drawn criticism from Lebanese officials, who view them as violations of the ceasefire and Lebanese sovereignty. However, Israeli officials maintain that their operations are defensive in nature, aimed at neutralizing threats posed by Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group that Israel considers a significant security risk.
In a surprising move, Israel also released several Lebanese prisoners on Tuesday, describing the action as a gesture of goodwill toward Lebanon’s new president. The release was seen as an attempt to ease tensions and create a more favorable environment for diplomatic engagement.
The killing of Ezzedine and the subsequent strikes highlight the fragile nature of the ceasefire and the ongoing volatility along the Israel-Lebanon border. While both sides have largely refrained from large-scale hostilities, the continued targeting of key figures and sites underscores the deep-seated mistrust and unresolved issues between Israel and Hezbollah.
For now, the region remains on edge, with the potential for further escalation looming. The international community has called for restraint, urging both sides to adhere to the ceasefire and avoid actions that could reignite conflict. However, with Hezbollah vowing to retaliate for the killing of its commander and Israel maintaining its stance on preemptive strikes, the path to lasting peace remains uncertain.
As the situation unfolds, the people of southern Lebanon and northern Israel continue to bear the brunt of the tensions, living under the constant threat of violence. The hope for a durable resolution to the conflict remains elusive, with both sides entrenched in their positions and the broader geopolitical dynamics of the region complicating efforts for reconciliation.
