The Israel Defence Forces reported a successful operation to eliminate a Hezbollah commander as Israeli tanks advanced into the western sector of southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah commander killed
The Israeli military announced on Tuesday that Suhail Husseini, a senior Hezbollah commander, was killed in a strike on Beirut. Husseini was reportedly responsible for overseeing the militant group’s logistics, budget and management. The military said Husseini was involved in the transfer of advanced weapons from Iran to various Hezbollah units and was a member of the group’s military council. Hezbollah had no immediate comment on the matter.
Last month, Israeli strikes killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah as well as several top commanders. Last week, Israel also launched what it said was a limited ground invasion of southern Lebanon. Hezbollah said it had already replaced its slain commanders and vowed to continue firing rockets, missiles and drones at Israel until a ceasefire is reached in the Gaza Strip.
Israel launched a ground offensive in southern Lebanon
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) announced in Israeli media that it has moved a fourth division into southern Lebanon, intensifying ground operations against the militant group Hezbollah. According to multiple reports, the 146th Reserve Division began operations on Monday night in the western sector of southern Lebanon.
The new unit joined three standing army divisions – the 98th, 36th and 91st – already operating in the central and eastern sectors of South Lebanon. The addition of the 146th Reserve Division brings the total number of troops involved in Israel’s ground offensive in Lebanon to more than 15,000.
Lebanese group Hezbollah said on Tuesday that its fighters were launching rocket attacks against Israeli army facilities and soldiers stationed in settlements in northern Israel.
The group said in a statement that its fighters struck a group of Israeli soldiers near the al-Marj military facility. In another statement, Hezbollah said it struck Israeli army artillery bunkers in the towns of Dishon and Dalton. The organisation’s fighters also struck a group of Israeli soldiers near the settlement of Yiron.
Hezbollah said the strikes were carried out in support of “the Palestinian people in Gaza and their courageous resistance, as well as in defence of Lebanon and its people.”
Israeli tanks advance into Jabalia in northern Gaza
Israel sent tanks into Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip on Tuesday and advised people to leave the city as it launched air strikes on the historic Palestinian refugee camp, residents said.
Palestinian medics said there were casualties in Jabalia but they were unable to reach the areas under fire.
The Israeli army said its forces were trying to stop Hamas militants launching attacks from Jabalia and wanted to prevent them from regrouping.
“Jabalia has been wiped off the face of the earth,” was repeated in many messages posted on social media by Gazans who on Monday marked the first anniversary of the war between Israel and Hamas, which began after Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023.
Palestinian health officials did not immediately release new casualty figures, but said dozens of people had died in the Gaza Strip in the past 24 hours. The Israeli military said one soldier was killed in fighting in northern Gaza.
New evacuation orders
The Israeli army issued a new evacuation order for residents of Jabalia and nearby Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya, telling them to go to the al-Mawasi humanitarian zone in the southern Gaza Strip.
Palestinian and UN officials say there are no completely safe places in Gaza. Salah, 60, a father of five who is a resident of Gaza City, said:
“Jabalia is being bombed as if the war has just begun and the world is blind about it. We live at least seven kilometers away, but the sounds of Israeli airstrikes and tank shelling deprive us of sleep. The world must stop Israeli crimes.”
Hamas said militants attacked Israeli forces in the north with anti-tank missiles and that there were casualties among Israeli troops.
The Israeli military said the Jabalia operations killed many Palestinian militants, recovered weapons and dismantled military infrastructure.
Israel launched the offensive after Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on October 7 last year, killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli estimates.
Some 42,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive in Gaza, according to the enclave’s health ministry. Most of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced and humanitarian conditions have deteriorated sharply.
