2 months ago
16
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on Thursday said that it carried out a drone strike in Lebanon this morning, killing a Hamas commander who was responsible for carrying out attacks, including rocket fire, on Israel read more
 "Hamas commander linked to attacks on Israel killed in IDF drone strike in Lebanon")
Israeli military participates in a drill near Israel's border with Lebanon in northern Israel. Reuters file
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on Thursday said that it carried out a drone strike in Lebanon this morning, killing a Hamas commander who was responsible for carrying out attacks, including rocket fire, on Israel.
According to a Times of Israel report, citing IDF, Hamas commander Muhammed Jabra worked alongside the Lebanese terror group al-Jama’a al-Islamiyya, which also claimed him as a member.
IDF said that Jabra’s killing is a blow to the ability of Hamas to carry out attacks against Israel.
Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah (backed by Iran) have been trading fire across their shared border for the past nine months.
On October 8 last year, a day after Hamas militants stormed out of Gaza and killed about 1,200 Israelis and took 251 others hostages, Hezbollah joined in by launching attacks on Israeli targets from Lebanon.
The Shia Islamist group claimed its actions were in support of Gaza, sparking immediate retaliation from Israel.
Hezbollah, a powerful force in Lebanon and also a political party, is designated as a terrorist organisation by many countries, including the UK and the US.
Unlike Hamas, Hezbollah possesses significant military capabilities that pose a serious threat to Israel. It is estimated to have a vast arsenal of over 150,000 rockets and missiles, some of which are precision-guided, capable of causing substantial damage across Israel.
Hezbollah possesses more weaponry than many nations. Iran, its primary supporter and a staunch opponent of Israel’s existence, provides training and funding to Hezbollah and other adversaries of the Jewish state.
The conflict has escalated with numerous cross-border strikes, prompting several countries, including Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, and Saudi Arabia, to advise their citizens to leave Lebanon urgently.
The UK has gone further, issuing a travel advisory against all travel to Lebanon and urging its nationals in the country to depart while it remains feasible.
So far, both sides are mainly striking military targets, close to the border - staying within familiar red lines.
With inputs from agencies
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
English (US) ·