IDF Airstrike Kills Seven Hezbollah Operatives Moving Weapons in South Lebanon

The Israeli Air Force, guided by Egoz Unit forces, struck and killed seven Hezbollah operatives earlier Friday in the Al-Manzala area of southern Lebanon. According to the IDF, the men had been transferring weapons into a building that served as a combat and observation post near the security zone where Israeli forces are operating.

The military said the operatives were identified moving the arms into the structure, from which they were conducting military activity and preparing to attack Israeli troops. The building, together with the weapons stored inside it, posed a real threat to IDF forces in the area. The precision strike destroyed the weapons and killed all seven militants.

The attack came amid ongoing IDF operations in southern Lebanon to remove threats to Israel. Over the past week, the Air Force and ground forces carried out six additional strikes against militants who endangered troops in the field, the report said.

The strike also comes against the backdrop of continued tension on the northern front and repeated threats from Hezbollah. Hezbollah secretary-general Naim Qassem this week demanded that Israel withdraw from Lebanon immediately in a speech marking the Shiite Ashura day. The IDF said, "The IDF will not allow the terrorist organization Hezbollah to harm the citizens of the State of Israel and its forces, and will continue to act to remove threats."