Israel eliminates top Hezbollah commander responsible for Galilee rocket attacks

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) reported the elimination of a regional Hezbollah commander responsible for coordinating rocket attacks on Israel from southern Lebanon.

"The Israeli Air Force eliminated Hussein Abd al-Halim Harb, the Hezbollah commander in the al-Hiyam border region, who directed multiple rocket attacks on populated areas in the Galilee, including the Metula region," IDF announced, per Caliber.Az.

Over the past 24 hours, the Israeli Air Force conducted strikes on 70 sites associated with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. These strikes targeted terrorist cells, weapons stockpiles, rocket launchers, and other infrastructure linked to both groups.

Earlier, the IDF conducted an aerial operation targeting Hezbollah intelligence facilities in Syria, resulting in the elimination of Mahmoud Mohammed Shaheen, head of Hezbollah's intelligence unit in Syria. The IDF noted that Shaheen played a crucial role in Hezbollah’s intelligence operations and had established close ties with the Syrian regime and Iranian officials, coordinating intelligence and air defence assets across the Iranian axis.

In a related development, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, appointing Foreign Minister Israel Katz in his place. Netanyahu cited a breakdown in trust, stating that "full trust between the prime minister and the defence minister is required more than ever in wartime." He attributed the dismissal to Gallant’s recent decisions and statements, which Netanyahu claimed diverged from government positions, potentially creating vulnerabilities amid Israel's current security challenges.

Tensions between the two had been simmering since October, when Gallant sent a letter to Netanyahu and the national security cabinet, demanding a review of Israel’s war objectives in light of "significant developments" on the battlefield, particularly during the country's response to Iranian aggression. Gallant's letter criticized the government’s lack of clear military guidance, which he argued was damaging Israel's strategic campaign.

Gallant, 65, who had served as defence minister since late 2022, had previously been fired by Netanyahu in March 2023 for criticizing the prime minister’s controversial judicial reforms. However, Netanyahu reversed that decision amid public protests, allowing Gallant to retain his position.

Gallant’s removal comes as Israel continues to grapple with security threats, most notably the ongoing conflict with Hamas, which Galant had described as a "serious blow" to the nation.

Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir praised Netanyahu's decision, saying: “With Gallant, who is still deeply stuck in his own concept, it is impossible to achieve total victory.”

Yair Golan, leader of the centre-left Democrats party, condemned the move, calling on Israelis to protest in the streets, similar to the widespread demonstrations that forced Netanyahu to reconsider firing Gallant earlier this year.

By Tamilla Hasanova