Jerusalem, April 20: The Israeli army announced on Sunday that it has killed Ali Rida Abbas, a commander of Hezbollah in the Bint Jbeil region. This strike occurred just 24 hours before a ceasefire, mediated by the United States, was set to take effect.
Additionally, the army claimed that over 150 Hezbollah members were eliminated in the 24 hours leading up to the ceasefire. According to military reports, Abbas was the fourth Hezbollah commander killed in the Bint Jbeil area since October 2023. Israel has identified this region in southern Lebanon as a critical frontline for Hezbollah attacks, as reported by Xinhua News Agency.
Abbas was considered a senior official in Hezbollah’s armed wing. He had survived Israeli strikes in 2024 that targeted several military leaders of the organization. However, Hezbollah has not confirmed these claims.
On the other hand, the Israeli army reported that one of its soldiers was killed and nine others injured during the fighting in southern Lebanon. Israeli troops remain deployed in the area despite the ceasefire being in effect.
Israeli state channel Kan TV reported that the reservist was killed when an army bulldozer struck explosives planted by Hezbollah. This incident marks the second Israeli military fatality since the ceasefire began on Thursday night.
According to the army, 15 Israeli soldiers have been killed since the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah erupted in early March 2026.
The Israeli military also stated that it has killed approximately 1,800 Hezbollah members and targeted 300 military installations, including rocket launchers, command centers, and weapon storage sites across various parts of Lebanon.
Despite the ceasefire, the Israeli army has indicated that it will continue operations to eliminate any threats to Israeli citizens and its soldiers. The Israeli Defense Minister emphasized the need to disarm Hezbollah, whether through military or political means, as a primary objective of this campaign.
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