IDF Kills Hezbollah Commander After Drone Attack Injures Three Soldiers in South Lebanon

Three Israeli combat engineers from the Yahalom unit were wounded, two seriously and one moderately, by a Hezbollah explosive drone in southern Lebanon on Saturday. The injured soldiers were evacuated to Rambam Hospital. In retaliation, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted a targeted strike in Al-Ansar, southern Lebanon, killing Ali Hassan, a Hezbollah battalion commander in the Radwan Force, whom the IDF identified as responsible for directing terrorist activities against Israeli forces in the security zone.

The IDF stated that family members of Ali Hassan were present at the Hezbollah command post during the strike and were also injured. However, the military emphasized that the family was not the target, accusing Hassan of using them as human shields. The IDF declared the strike lawful under international law, targeting only the militant commander.

Earlier, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office issued an unusual English-language statement before the IDF spokesperson’s announcement, accusing Hezbollah of violating the ceasefire by attacking Israeli forces in the security zone. This step was taken due to strong reactions in Lebanon and the need to clarify Israel’s position internationally. Lebanese reports claimed 11 people were killed in the strikes, while Israel accused Hezbollah of deliberately placing civilians inside military sites to use them as shields and shift blame onto Israel.

Additionally, the IDF reported another incident in the area where paratroopers neutralized two militants who crossed the security line and posed a threat. In the southern Gaza Strip, an IDF tank triggered an explosive device near the security line but no casualties were reported.