Israeli Air Force Kills Three Hezbollah Terrorists

Latest Developments

Israel killed three Hezbollah terrorists, at least one of them a commander, in two air strikes in southern Lebanon on April 16. Ismail Baz, who died in a strike on his car near Tyre, led Hezbollah’s coastal sector and was involved in planning rocket and guided-missile attacks across the border, the Israel Defense Forces said. A short time later, an airstrike near the town of Chehabiyeh killed two other Hezbollah figures, Lebanese sources said. There was no immediate comment from Israel on that strike.

Baz was the seventh brigade commander-level Hezbollah officer killed since the Iranian-backed terrorist group started attacking Israel in solidarity with Hamas last October. Hezbollah has lost a total of more than 300 personnel, with another 1,000 wounded and combat-incapable, according to Israeli assessments.

Expert Analysis

“It would appear that Israel has now eliminated more Hezbollah terrorists in stand-off attacks than it did during the 2006 Lebanon war. Its strategic patience on the northern front is not without battlefield gains. But as the months pass and the new school year approaches in September, Israelis who were evacuated from communities along the Lebanese border will be demanding more concrete proof that it is safe to return.” — Mark Dubowitz, FDD CEO

“Israel’s airstrikes today demonstrate a newfound determination to set the tone of the conflict with Hezbollah. For decades, the Israelis had ceded this initiative to the terrorist group despite being the stronger party. When Hezbollah initiated its ongoing attacks against Israel on October 8, that proved the old status quo was no longer tenable.” — David Daoud, FDD Senior Fellow

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