Israel has intensified its campaign against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon in the past three days, carrying out six strikes that killed five of the Iran-backed party’s members.
Israel's military said Saturday its navy hit a Hezbollah "infrastructure site" near the southern Lebanese city of Naqoura, a day after Israel's foreign minister warned the Lebanese armed group against entering the Iran-Israel war.
"Overnight, an Israeli Navy vessel struck a Hezbollah 'Radwan Force' terrorist infrastructure site in the area of Naqoura in southern Lebanon", the military said, adding the site was used by Hezbollah "to advance terror attacks against Israeli civilians".
On Friday, Israeli jets struck a vehicle in the town of al-Abbasiyeh east of Tyre city, killing Mohammed Khodr al-Husseini, whom local media identified as a Hezbollah member.
The Israeli army confirmed the killing, saying Husseini was a Hezbollah commander operating in the Litani sector. It added that he was working on rebuilding Hezbollah’s artillery operations in the area.
Later on Friday, an Israeli drone strike in the town of al-Hebbariyah near the Israeli border hit a vehicle parked by the side of the road. The vehicle turned out to be empty.
The attacks followed a bloody day of strikes on Thursday that killed three Hezbollah members in three strikes. One civilian was killed in the attacks.
One strike targeted a motorcycle in the town of Kfar Joz in Nabatiyeh, another a vehicle in the border town of Houla and the third another motorcycle in the town of Barish in the Tyre district.
Israel has kept up its strikes against Hezbollah members despite the ceasefire that ended the war between them in November and despite the ongoing war between Israel and Iran.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Hezbollah to exercise caution on Friday, saying Israel's patience with "terrorists" who threaten it had worn thin.
Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said on Thursday that the group would act as it saw fit in the face of what he called "brutal Israeli-American aggression" against Iran.
In other statements, the group has made no explicit pledge to join the fighting. But it has condemned Israel’s surprise strikes on Iran that sparked the conflict and endorsed Iran’s missile barrages over Israel.
"I suggest the Lebanese proxy be cautious and understand that Israel has lost patience with terrorists who threaten it," Katz said in a statement on Friday, adding that "if there is terrorism -- there will be no Hezbollah."
Qassem "is not learning a lesson from his predecessors and is threatening to act against Israel in accordance with the Iranian dictator's orders," Katz stated.
Separately, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced on Friday the appointment of Major General Diodato Abagnara of Italy as Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) that operates in the South.
He succeeds Lieutenant General Aroldo Lazaro Saenz of Spain.
Abagnara brings to the position over 36 years of military service, including extensive leadership roles within the Italian Armed Forces, said UNIFIL in a statement.
Most recently, he served as Commander and Chair of the Military Technical Committee for Lebanon (MTC4L), where he oversaw multinational coordination efforts in support of the Lebanese Armed Forces.
Prior to that, he held several key appointments, including Personnel Division Chief and Adviser to the Chief of Defense Staff in the Defense General Staff, Commander of an infantry brigade, and Chief of the Officers’ Employment Office.
From 2018 to 2019, he was also UNIFIL Sector West Commander. In addition, he chaired the Joint Gender Perspective Council within the Defense General Staff, underscoring his commitment to inclusive leadership and institutional reform.
