Israel Hezbollah War Update: The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced that they have “eliminated” Araeb el Shoga, a high-ranking official of Hezbollah’s Radwan Forces’ Anti-tank Missile Unit, during a targeted airstrike in the Meiss El Jabal region of Southern Lebanon.
Araeb El Shoga had allegedly orchestrated several anti-tank missile attacks on northern Israel, and his death represents a significant blow to Hezbollah’s military operations in the region.
This strike is part of an ongoing escalation between Israel and Hezbollah, which has seen increased airstrikes and cross-border attacks. The IDF reported that, during the strike, several secondary explosions were detected, indicating the presence of a substantial weapons cache in the area.
Israel’s Continued Strikes
The recent airstrikes, that killed Araeb El Shoga, come a day after an Israeli operation targeting Wafiq Safa, the head of Hezbollah’s liaison and coordination unit, in central Beirut. Although the attack resulted in 22 deaths and over 100 injuries, Hezbollah’s Al Manar TV stated that Safa was not present at the targeted location, and the assassination attempt failed.
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In a separate incident, Israeli forces reportedly fired on United Nations peacekeepers in Southern Lebanon, wounding two personnel. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) confirmed that its headquarters and several positions had been struck, including an observation tower in Naqoura.
Escalation with Iran
In response to the ongoing conflict, Iran, a key supporter of Hezbollah and Hamas, fired approximately 180 ballistic missiles into Israel. This move was retaliatory for the Israeli assassination of high-ranking members of both Hezbollah and Hamas. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has promised a “lethal and surprising” response to the Iranian strikes, though further details were not disclosed.
This series of events marks a dangerous escalation in the broader Middle East conflict, with growing international concerns about the increasing violence and its potential repercussions.
