In a major escalation of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that over 250 Hezbollah fighters have been killed since the launch of a ground offensive in southern Lebanon earlier this week. The offensive, aimed at neutralizing the Hezbollah threat near Israel’s northern border, has led to significant losses for the Iran-backed militant group.
Among the casualties are several high-ranking Hezbollah commanders. The IDF confirmed that five brigade-level commanders, 10 company commanders, six platoon commanders, and 21 field commanders were eliminated in the recent fighting. An updated assessment suggests that the number of Hezbollah casualties may be even higher, with estimates now suggesting as many as 400 fighters killed by Israeli forces in the past few days.
In one of the more intense clashes on Thursday, IDF troops killed 15 Hezbollah fighters in a firefight. One Israeli soldier was wounded in the skirmish, adding to the IDF’s total loss of nine soldiers since the operation began. Israeli forces have encountered Hezbollah militants embedded in civilian areas, including schools, mosques, and residential buildings—locations that make the conflict even more complex as these actions constitute war crimes under international law.
The IDF’s 98th and 36th Divisions are currently leading operations against Hezbollah across numerous villages and towns in southern Lebanon. As they advance, Israeli forces have uncovered extensive caches of weapons and other military assets left behind by retreating Hezbollah fighters. The operation, which the IDF describes as consisting of “limited, localized, and targeted raids,” seeks to neutralize Hezbollah’s military infrastructure and restore security in northern Israel.
The broader aim of this ground offensive is to push Hezbollah forces far enough from the Israeli border to enable the safe return of 60,000 Israeli citizens who were evacuated from the region. These civilians were forced to leave their homes due to Hezbollah rocket and missile attacks, which have targeted northern Israel with relentless bombardments since the conflict began in early October 2023.
On Friday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant expressed confidence in the ongoing offensive, stating that Hezbollah had already suffered heavy losses and hinting that more blows were on the way. “Hezbollah is receiving very severe blows, one after the other. We eliminated [Hezbollah chief Hassan] Nasrallah and we have more surprises in store, some of which have already been carried out, and some of which will be carried out soon,” Gallant said during a visit to the 36th Division headquarters in northern Israel.
Gallant also disclosed that Hezbollah’s missile and rocket division had been severely weakened by IDF operations, with a “significant part” of the division destroyed in precision strikes. He added that the command and control headquarters of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force, as well as its second- and third-tier commanders, had been wiped out. These forces were critical to Hezbollah’s military operations and posed a direct threat to Israel.
The defense minister reiterated that the Israeli military is currently targeting Hezbollah positions in several villages and plans to continue its operations until all Hezbollah infrastructure capable of launching attacks against Israel is destroyed. Israeli forces are determined to dismantle the terror group’s networks and disrupt their ability to fire rockets and missiles into Israeli territory.
Since launching an unprovoked attack on Israel on October 8, 2023, Hezbollah has fired more than 9,000 rockets, missiles, and explosive drones into Israel, killing dozens of Israeli civilians and soldiers. Israel has responded with airstrikes and ground raids, targeting Hezbollah positions not only in Lebanon but also in Syria, where the militant group maintains a presence.
Hezbollah’s leadership has been a key target for the IDF, and in the past few weeks, the Israeli military has succeeded in eliminating much of the group’s senior command. Among the most significant losses for Hezbollah is the death of its Secretary-General, Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed last Friday in an Israeli airstrike on Hezbollah’s headquarters in Beirut. Nasrallah had led the militant group for years and was a central figure in its operations against Israel.
As of Friday, the Israeli military also confirmed the death of Muhammad Rashid Sakafi, a senior Hezbollah operative and head of the group’s communications division. Sakafi was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut, with the IDF describing him as responsible for maintaining communication links across Hezbollah’s various units and operations.
While the IDF has emphasized that the current offensive is limited in scope, it remains clear that the Israeli military intends to deal a decisive blow to Hezbollah’s capabilities before drawing down its operations. The conflict shows no signs of abating in the near future, and with Hezbollah continuing to launch attacks on Israeli territory, the IDF’s objective remains the dismantling of the group’s military infrastructure to prevent further aggression.
For now, the Israeli offensive in southern Lebanon continues, with both sides bracing for what could be a prolonged and brutal conflict.
