The Israeli defence force said on Monday that it has “eliminated” a high-ranking Hezbollah commander, Abu Ali Rida, who was accused of orchestrating rocket and anti-tank missile attacks against Israeli forces in southern Lebanon. Rida, who commanded Hezbollah’s operations in the Baraachit area, was killed in an air strike, though the military did not disclose the timing of his death.
Rida “was responsible for planning and executing rocket and anti-tank missile attacks on IDF (military) troops and oversaw the terrorist activities of Hezbollah operatives in the area”, the military said in a statement, according to AFP news agency.
The current conflict started after almost a year of increasing cross-border fights, with Hezbollah firing rockets into northern Israel in support of its ally, Hamas, in Gaza. This marks a major escalation in what is already Israel’s deadliest war against Hamas, which began after a surprise attack on southern Israel on October 7 last year.
Since the onset of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah in late September this year, Israeli forces have intensified their bombardment of Hezbollah targets across Lebanon. This military campaign has resulted in the deaths of several key commanders and leaders of Hezbollah, including its former chief, Hassan Nasrallah.