‘Israel Will Do What It Has To Do’: Hezbollah Hit As Withdrawal Deadline Nears

Latest Developments

Hezbollah Drone Commander Killed: An Israeli air strike on a car near the southern Lebanese town of Iqlim al-Tuffah on February 15 killed a Hezbollah drone commander and an operative working for a pro-Hezbollah broadcaster. Defense Minister Israel Katz identified the slain terrorist as Abbas Ahmed Hammoud, saying he had been responsible for a January 30 surveillance drone launch into Israel that violated the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. The other casualty was named by Iranian state media outlets as Ahmed Farhat, who worked for the Arabic-language Islamist network Nabaa TV.
Beqaa Valley Arsenals Hit: On February 16, Israeli warplanes struck in Lebanon’s Beqaa Valley. The IDF said the targets were “military sites containing rocket launchers and weapons, where Hezbollah activity had been detected” – marking yet another ceasefire violation.
Israel Committed to Truce: Hosting visiting U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Jerusalem remained committed to the ceasefire understandings reached with Hezbollah on November 27. “We expect the government of Lebanon to be equally committed to their fulfilment,” he said. “Hezbollah must be disarmed. And Israel would prefer that the Lebanese army do that job. But no one should doubt that Israel will do what it has to do to enforce the understandings of the ceasefire and defend our security.”

FDD Expert Response

“With its withdrawal from southern Lebanon just two days away, on February 18, Israel is underscoring both its moral authority and military capability to hold Hezbollah accountable. If the Lebanese Armed Forces cannot demonstrate its own willingness and capabilities to secure the ceasefire against Hezbollah aggression, the IDF will do what it must do to defend Israelis.” — Mark Dubowitz, CEO

“By launching a drone strike against Israel, Hezbollah has shown a clear disregard for the ceasefire agreement and signaled its intent to challenge the Israeli military. Consequently, the Israeli strike that killed Abbas Hamoud and Ahmed Farhat served as a warning to Hezbollah, emphasizing that Israel possesses the intelligence capabilities necessary to locate and eliminate members of the group responsible for acts against the Jewish state.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst and Editor at FDD’s Long War Journal