Intensifying Conflict: Israel Eliminates Hezbollah Commander in Drone Attack

A video released by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on the 23rd (local time) claims to have eliminated Hussein Ali Azqul, a commander-level member of the Hezbollah aviation unit, a pro-Iranian armed group in Lebanon. According to the video, the IDF bombed the vehicle Azkull was riding in through an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) attack. IDF

While Israel and Iran appear to be showing some restraint after exchanging attacks on the mainland, Israel’s conflict with Hezbollah, a pro-Iranian militant group in Lebanon, is intensifying. While Israel is focusing its fighting power on the southernmost Rafah air strike in the Palestinian Gaza Strip, there is analysis that Hamas, another pro-Iranian armed group, is gathering military power in the north.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on the 23rd (local time), “We eliminated a commander-level member of Hezbollah’s aviation unit through an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) air strike. According to the local media Times of Israel, the Israeli army attacked with a drone near Tyre, a coastal city in southern Lebanon, killing Hussein Ali Azqul, the senior commander of Hezbollah’s aviation unit.

The Israeli military explained, “Azqul was heavily involved in planning and executing terrorist attacks against Israel,” and added, “His death will be a significant blow to Hezbollah’s aviation unit.” In addition, the Israeli army killed Sajeed Sarafand, one of the key commanders of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan unit, in the Arjun region of southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah is also launching a counterattack. On the same day, according to AFP, Hezbollah launched dozens of missiles into northern Israel to avenge the deaths of Azkull and others. They also carried out a drone attack on the northern military base of Acre. Reuters commented on this attack, saying, “This was the deepest attack launched on Israeli territory since the war began in the Gaza Strip.”

Meanwhile, the Israeli army bombed the northern part of the Gaza Strip for the first time in about four months and rejoined ground forces, including tanks. The United States Wall Street Journal (WSJ) cited an official from Israel’s Ministry of Defense and reported, “There are still thousands of militants in the northern Gaza Strip.” As the Israeli army prepares for the ground battle in Rafah, the southernmost part of the Gaza Strip, and reduces the number of troops in the north and reduces the intensity of the operations, there are observations that the military power of Hamas is reviving. “It will take some time to stabilize the northern Gaza Strip,” former IDF deputy commander Amar Abibi told WSJ.

Reporter Lee Ki-wook 71wook@donga.com

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