By Chris Summers
Contributing Writer
Israel launched its first air strike on Beirut since the ceasefire in Lebanon came into effect on April 16, killing a Hezbollah commander.
The Israel Defense Forces issued a statement on Thursday saying it had killed Ahmed Ghalib Balut, the commander of the Radwan Force, which it described as “the elite commando unit of the terrorist organization Hezbollah” in Dahiyeh, a southern suburb of Beirut.
In a post on X on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “I instructed, together with Defense Minister Israel Katz, to strike now in Beirut the commander of the Radwan Force in the terrorist organization Hezbollah in order to neutralize him.
“Radwan terrorists are responsible for firing at Israeli settlements and harming IDF soldiers. No terrorist has immunity — Israel’s long arm will reach every enemy and murderer.”
The IDF said in its statement that “for years, Ghalib Balut held a series of positions in the ‘Radwan Force’ unit, including commander of the unit’s operations.”
“As part of his duties, he was responsible for the unit’s readiness and alertness for combat against IDF forces and the State of Israel,” it said.
The IDF said Balut had been recently directing Radwan Force terrorists and had led dozens of terrorist plots against IDF forces in southern Lebanon.
Balut had been behind the implementation of Hezbollah’s “Galilee Conquest Plan,” the IDF said.
Galilee is the ancient name for the northern region of Israel, extending to the border with Lebanon.
“The Radwan Force unit operates with the funding and direction of the Iranian terrorist regime to harm IDF forces and citizens of the State of Israel,” the IDF statement said.
Netanyahu said his government had promised to bring security to the residents of northern Israel.
“This is how it’s done, and this is how it will be done,” he said on X.
U.S. President Donald Trump arranged a 10-day ceasefire on April 16 after conversations with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Netanyahu.
On April 23, when the ceasefire was extended for three weeks, Trump said that he saw “a great chance” of Israel and Lebanon reaching a peace deal this year.
On Wednesday, Israel called for residents to evacuate several villages north of the Litani River in Lebanon.
United Nations spokesman Stéphane Dujarric, briefing journalists on Wednesday, said the U.N. was concerned about the latest evacuation orders.
“We once again reiterate that civilians and civilian infrastructure must be respected and protected at all times,” Dujarric said.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on Wednesday that it was premature to discuss any high-level meeting with Israel.
Salam, in comments reported by Lebanon’s National News Agency, said any new negotiations would be based on shoring up the ceasefire.
Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy, opened fire on Israel on March 2, in a breach of the ceasefire, following the U.S. and Israeli strikes in Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba, who was wounded in the same attack, has since replaced him as the Iranian leader.
Reuters contributed to this report.
