Illustrative image. (The Israeli Defense Forces)
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced on April 23 that it had killed more than 140 members of Hezbollah since a ceasefire agreement with Lebanon brokered by the United States came into effect last November.
In a statement summarizing its activities in Lebanon over the past week, the military said that it killed nine Hezbollah members and struck over 40 sites belonging to the group in Lebanon.
The strikes were a part of efforts to prevent Hezbollah from rearming, the military added, noting that members involved in the group’s reorganization efforts and those who were violating the ceasefire were targeted. It also published footage showing some of the recent strikes.
The latest strike, which was on April 22, killed an alleged commander of Hezbollah in the town of al-Haniyya in southern Lebanon. The commander was responsible for Hezbollah’s forces in the area of Majdal Zoun, according to the IDF.
The ceasefire, which entered into effect on November 27, was supposed to end all clashes on the Israeli-Lebanese border by February 18. Nevertheless, the Israeli military continues to launch strikes against Hezbollah. It also maintains troops at five strategic points in southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah has so far refrained from responding in any way, likely to deny Israel an excuse to renew its full-on operations in Lebanon.
Still, the IDF escalated its strikes in recent weeks, hitting not only Hezbollah, but also the group’s close allies.
On April 4, an Israeli strike on the coastal city of Sidon in southern Lebanon killed Hassan Farhat, a senior official of the Palestinian Hamas Movement. Later on April 22, Hussein Izzat Mohammad Atwi, a prominent member of the Islamic Group, was killed in an Israeli drone strike on the coastal town of Haret al-Naameh located to the south of the capital, Beirut.
Israel will likely continue to escalate to mount more pressure on Hezbollah, which is already facing unprecedented pressure from the Lebanese government.
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