The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Thursday said it has killed more than 85 Hezbollah militants including several key commanders and had struck 180 sites used by the group over last week, with Israeli forces also striking the Lebanese capital Beirut for the first time since a ceasefire took effect last month.
The IDF also claimed that Ahmed Ghaleb Balout, the commander of Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force, was killed in an airstrike in Beirut on Wednesday. This is the first time Beirut has been hit by Israeli airstrikes since the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel came into force on April 17.
In addition, the IDF also confirmed killing of Muhammad Ali Bazi, chief of intelligence in Hezbollah's Nasr regional division and Hussein Hassan Romani, head of aerial defense.
Following the latest developments, IDF units operating inside Lebanon and along the controversial temporary border buffer zone in southern Lebanon which Israeli forces have dubbed the "Yellow Line," have been placed at the highest level of alert, according to sources.
This move comes as the IDF readies for potential retaliatory attacks following the killing of the commander of Hezbollah's Radwan Force.
Israel claims killing of at least 85 Hezbollah militants as strikes hit Beirut
