Israeli Airstrike Kills Hezbollah Commander

Jerusalem, 16 April, 2024 (TPS) -- The Israel Defense Forces on Tuesday confirmed the killing of a Hezbollah commander in an airstrike in the Southern Lebanese village of Ain Ebel.

Ismail Yusaf Baz was the commander of Hezbollah’s coastal sector whose rank was the equivalent of a brigade commander. The IDF said Baz was involved in planning missile and anti-tank rocket fire at northern Israeli communities from Lebanon’s coastal areas. The IDF said Baza also planned several terror attacks.

Earlier in the day, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for a drone attack that injured three people near Moshav Beit Hillel in the Upper Galilee region. Warning sirens were not triggered and the IDF said it was investigating.

Israeli reservists also completed a combat readiness exercise along the Lebanese border on Tuesday, the Israel Defense Forces said.

Exercises included scenarios involving simultaneous fighting in Syria and Lebanon, cyber exercises, and transitioning from routine to a state of emergency.

Tensions remain high as Israeli leaders decide on a response to Iran’s Saturday night attack. According to the IDF, of the roughly 320 drones and missiles launched, 99% were intercepted. Most of the UAVs were shot down by American, Jordanian, British and French forces, while Israel’s Arrow-3 air defense system shot down the ballistic missiles at high altitudes.

Iran vowed to avenge an airstrike on its embassy compound in Damascus on April 1. Killed in the strike were Quds Force commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, and seven other IRGC officers.

The attack was widely attributed to Israel, though Jerusalem never confirmed this.

Israel’s War Cabinet met on Monday night to discuss how to respond. According to various media reports, the Cabinet is divided on the retaliation’s timing and scale.