The Israel Defense Forces reported the assassination of Zayn al-Abidin Hussein Fatouni, one of the leaders of Hezbollah's military wing in Lebanon
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The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on Saturday the death of Zayn al-Abidin Hussein Fatouni, a commander of the anti-tank unit of Radwan Force of Hezbollah, in a drone strike in southern Lebanon.
The attack, which also left one person injured, took place in the town of Jibchit, near Harouf, in the Nabatieh district, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.
The Israeli army reported that Fatouni was involved in the reconstruction of Hezbollah's military infrastructure in the region, in violation of the agreements reached after the November 27, 2024, ceasefire, which ended more than a year of conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed Shiite group.
''The commander was actively engaged in restoring the group's terrorist capabilities in southern Lebanon,'' the IDF statement said, justifying the operation as a preventive measure against an ''imminent risk to Israeli security.''
Hussein Fatouni fue asesinado en un ataque con drones cerca de Nabatieh
Meanwhile, Abbas Hassan Karki, logistical commander of Hezbollah's ''Southern Front,'' was also eliminated. Karki oversaw the transfer of weapons, combat equipment, and operations south of the Litani River, being a crucial figure in the reconstruction of Hezbollah's military apparatus after its recent defeats. His elimination in Nabatieh represents another direct blow to the operational capacity of the Iran-backed movement.
Saturday's bombing adds to an escalation of Israeli attacks on Lebanese territory during the past week. On Friday, the IDF announced that it had eliminated two other Hezbollah activists in two separate operations, including another high-ranking commander, who were participating in the group's reorganization efforts in the south of the country.
On Thursday, a series of bombings in southern and eastern Lebanon left four dead, according to local authorities. Israel stated that its targets were a weapons depot, a training camp, a missile manufacturing plant, and other military objectives.
También fue eliminado un comandante logístico del grupo terrorista en el ataque
Saturday's attack marks another significant blow against the nefarious Radwan Force, one of Hezbollah's most feared and best-trained units, created with the objective of penetrating Israeli territory in the event of war.
For years, this force led the plan known as ''Conquer Galilee,'' which envisioned ground incursions into communities in northern Israel. However, after the 2023-2024 conflict, most of its top commanders were killed or neutralized, severely weakening its operational structure.
Since the ceasefire brokered by the United States, Israel claims to have killed more than 300 Hezbollah fighters and destroyed hundreds of positions and arsenals in southern Lebanon. In turn, it has carried out more than 1,000 targeted raids since December 2024.
Las ''Fuerzas Radwan'' tienen como objetivo infiltrarse en territorio israelí con fines militares
Although the truce stipulated the withdrawal of both sides and the deployment of the Lebanese army in the border area, Israel still keeps five strategic positions, while accusing Hezbollah of not having completely left the area or surrendered its weapons.
The Israeli offensive seeks to prevent a return to open violence that devastated the northern border in 2023, when more than 60,000 Israelis were evacuated due to daily rocket attacks from Lebanon.
These hostilities began on October 8, 2023, one day after the cowardly attack by Hamas against Israel, in which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 were taken hostage. Since then, the alliance between Hezbollah and Hamas has been seen by Israel as a coordinated front under Iran's tutelage.
Las Fuerzas de Defensa Israelíes buscan frenar el avance de Hezbollah para evitar un nuevo surgimiento de violencia a gran escala
In Lebanon, the government faces internal and international pressure to disarm Hezbollah. The Lebanese army has reportedly already presented a plan to integrate the group's forces into the official structures of the State, although the political viability of that measure remains uncertain.
The military weakening and social exhaustion after the war have eroded support for the group in broad sectors of the country, especially in the southern regions, where reconstruction is progressing slowly and Israeli raids continue.
