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IAF strike in Lebanon kills senior Hezbollah terrorist

Ismail Baz commanded the Iranian proxy’s coastal sector.

Smoke rises after an Israeli air strike in Southern Lebanon, April 15, 2024. Photo by Ayal Margolin/Flash90.
Smoke rises after an Israeli air strike in Southern Lebanon, April 15, 2024. Photo by Ayal Margolin/Flash90.

An Israeli Air Force strike in Southern Lebanon on Tuesday killed a senior Hezbollah terrorist responsible for firing rockets and missiles at the Jewish state, the Israel Defense Forces said.

Since the Iranian terrorist proxy joined the war against Israel in support of Hamas on Oct. 8, Ismail Baz, who commanded Hezbollah’s coastal sector, “organized and planned various terrorist plots,” the IDF said.

The military added, “Ismail served in several positions as a senior and veteran official in the military wing of Hezbollah. His current rank is equivalent to the rank of brigadier general.”

The IAF strike on a vehicle in Ain Baal, near Tyre, came shortly after attack drones launched by Hezbollah lightly wounded three Israelis near Moshav Beit Hillel in the Eastern Galilee.

“Two explosive drones crossed from Lebanese territory towards Israeli territory and exploded in the area of Beit Hillel. The incident is under investigation,” the IDF said.

No alarms were triggered during the incident. Beit Hillel, located three miles from Kiryat Shmona, has been largely evacuated since October due to the cross-border attacks by Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorists.

In a statement, Hezbollah claimed it hit an Iron Dome missile-defense battery near Beit Hillel and that soldiers were killed and wounded.

Hezbollah has engaged in near-daily attacks on Israel’s evacuated border region since Oct. 8.

In response, the Israeli Air Force has carried out a series of retaliatory strikes, including targeted killings of Hezbollah commanders.

Speaking at a U.S.-hosted counter-terrorism conference in Washington, the Israeli foreign minister accused activist networks of advancing Hamas and Hezbollah’s agenda.
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