440 Hezbollah fighters have been killed in Lebanon in the last 6 days since the start of the Israeli ground offensive. Among these soldiers killed, 30 were commanders of various levels of the group.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said this at a press conference in Jerusalem on Saturday. “We are pushing Hezbollah terrorists to the north of Lebanon,” Hagari said at the press conference. A section of the terrorists escaped from the area, while the rest were defeated and killed by our troops.”
In a statement the same day, Israel’s army chief, Lt. Gen. Harji Halevi, said, “The Defense Forces will continue operations against Hezbollah. There will be no pause in the campaign until the target is met, and no concessions will be made to Hezbollah.
Iran-backed Hezbollah is currently the largest armed political group in the world. The Lebanon-based group was founded in 1985. The group has been committed to the destruction of the state of Israel since its inception.
On the other side of Israel’s northern border is southern Lebanon. The region is Hezbollah’s main base and is home to most of the group’s military installations. After the start of Israel’s war with Hamas, the group that controls the Gaza Strip on October 7, Hezbollah started firing rockets and missiles at various installations in the northern part of Israel in solidarity with Hamas. Israel also began to respond. More than 2,000 people have lost their lives in Lebanon in the conflict between the two sides in the last one year. Among these victims, the number of women and children is more than 500.
The Israel Air Force started operations in Lebanon from last September 20. Several top commanders including Hezbollah’s main leader and Secretary General Hasan Nasrullah were killed in the nearly 10-day campaign. The highest level of the group’s chain of command has almost collapsed.
After the air campaign phase, the IDF ground forces started the operation in South Lebanon from last September 30. In an earlier announcement, the IDF said the operation would be limited and localized in villages in southern Lebanon bordering Israel. However, the IDF has not yet given any information or indication regarding how long this operation will last.