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IAF kills Hezbollah operative in southeastern Lebanon

The airstrike comes after a senior Hezbollah commander was killed and the U.S. imposed new sanctions targeting the group’s leadership and funding.

This picture taken from the Marjayoun area shows smoke billowing from the site of Israeli airstrikes on the hills of Nabatieh in Southern Lebanon, May 8, 2025. Photo by Rabih Daher/AFP via Getty Images.
This picture taken from the Marjayoun area shows smoke billowing from the site of Israeli airstrikes on the hills of Nabatieh in Southern Lebanon, May 8, 2025. Photo by Rabih Daher/AFP via Getty Images.

The Israeli Air Force conducted a strike in the Arnoun area of Southern Lebanon’s Nabatieh Governorate on Thursday, targeting and killing a Hezbollah operative involved in efforts to rebuild the organization’s terrorist infrastructure in the region.

This operation follows a series of targeted strikes by the IDF aimed at disrupting Hezbollah’s activities along Israel’s northern border. Notably, on Wednesday, the IDF confirmed the elimination of Hussein Naama, a regional Hezbollah commander responsible for the Qabrikha area, in an airstrike on Qaaqaaiyet el-Jisr, also in the Nabatieh Governorate.

In a parallel development, the United States announced new sanctions on Thursday against two senior Hezbollah officials and two financial facilitators based in Lebanon and Iran.

The U.S. Treasury Department stated that these individuals were instrumental in channeling overseas donations to Hezbollah, which constitute a significant portion of the group’s budget. One sanctioned man, Jihad Alami, coordinated the delivery of at least $50,000 from Iran to Lebanon, funds likely intended for onward transfer to Gaza following the Hamas-led attacks on Israel in October 2023.

These coordinated military and financial actions underscore the ongoing efforts by Israel and the United States to counter Hezbollah’s influence and operational capabilities in the region.

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“Anyone who attempts to pose a threat or attack Israel will face devastating consequences,” said Danny Danon, Israeli ambassador to the global body.
“I think they’re much more susceptible to being targeted if a public official wants to target them, if a community wants to target them,” Rep. Josh Gottheimer told JNS.
Israel is building a barrier as part of efforts to bolster border defenses.