Daijiworld Media Network - Beirut
Beirut, Apr 18: Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have flared once again after the Israeli military announced it killed a senior Hezbollah commander in a precision drone strike in southern Lebanon on Thursday.
According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the strike targeted the Blida area and eliminated Ali Ibar al-Nabi Khadi, identified as the deputy head of Hezbollah’s military outpost in the Mhaibib region. “The IDF will operate against any attempts by Hezbollah to rebuild or establish a military presence under the guise of civilian cover,” the Israeli military said in a statement.
Lebanese security sources confirmed the strike to Xinhua news agency, identifying the deceased as Hezbollah member Ali Abdel Nabi Hijazi, reportedly struck while riding a motorcycle in Aitaroun, a nearby village. His death marks a significant escalation in the volatile border region.
The incident comes despite a ceasefire agreement brokered by the US and France, which came into effect on November 27, 2024, following over a year of hostilities linked to the Gaza conflict. However, sporadic Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon have continued, with Israel citing the need to eliminate emerging threats from Hezbollah.
In a related development, the Lebanese Army reported dismantling an Israeli espionage device in Blida, warning civilians to avoid such objects due to the danger they pose.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces also launched airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, hitting what they claimed was a Hamas command and control centre in Jabalia, which they said was being used to coordinate attacks on Israeli targets.
The renewed strikes underline the fragile nature of the ceasefire and the continuing volatility across Israel's northern and southern borders.