Israeli official says Hezbollah 'military commanders' to be targeted across Lebanon
Israel's 'battle' against Hezbollah will continue as long as the group 'violates the ceasefire agreement,' Al-Arabiya TV quoted an Israeli security source as saying.
'The assassinations are limited to Hezbollah's military rather than political targets and Hezbollah's military commanders will be targeted across Lebanon,' the source added.
'The assassinations will continue in the future amid close monitoring of the emergence of any new Hezbollah commander,' the source said, adding that Israeli has 'detected attempts by Hezbollah to rebuild its structures.'
The source however noted that 'the rebuilding of Hezbollah's structures will take years due to the major damage' they have sustained.
'We will not hesitate to strike any Hezbollah leadership level if it becomes a threat,' the source said.
Separately, the source said 'there is no confirmation of direct cooperation between Hezbollah and Palestinian factions in Lebanon,' warning that Israel 'will thwart' any such attempt.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Ya Libnan
2 hours ago
- Ya Libnan
President Aoun steps up calls on Hezbollah to disarm
By Laila Bassam BEIRUT – Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stepped up his calls for Hezbollah to disarm on Thursday, suggesting failure to do so would give Israel an excuse to continue attacks and saying the issue would be on the agenda of a cabinet meeting next week. The comments reflect mounting pressure over the issue of Hezbollah's arms, which has loomed over Lebanon since the Iran-aligned group was pummeled in a war with Israel last year. Washington wants Hezbollah disarmed – a demand echoed by the Beirut government as it aims to establish a monopoly on weapons. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem, who fled to Tehran last October said in a televised speech on Wednesday that calls for its disarmament served only Israel. In a speech to army officers, Aoun said the government would next week discuss Lebanon's amendments to a U.S. roadmap to disarm Hezbollah, deemed a terrorist group by Washington. Lebanon's counter proposal demands an immediate halt to Israel's attacks, its withdrawal from positions held in the south, the establishment of state control over all Lebanon and the disarmament of armed groups including Hezbollah, he said. Aoun urged all parties 'to seize this historic opportunity … and push for the exclusivity of weapons in the hands of the army and security forces'. He said the government would set a timeframe to implement the steps. Shi'ite Muslim Hezbollah, backed by Tehran, was the only Lebanese group allowed to keep its weapons at the end of the 1975-90 civil war on the grounds it needed them to fight Israeli troops who occupied the south but withdrew in 2000. Hezbollah's arsenal has long divided Lebanese, with critics saying it has undermined the state and dragged Lebanon into conflicts. Washington has been pushing Lebanon to commit to disarming Hezbollah before talks can resume on halting Israeli military operations, Reuters reported earlier this week . Hezbollah has so far refused, though the group has been considering scaling back its arsenal . 'PRETEXTS FOR AGGRESSION' Addressing Hezbollah and its followers but without naming them, Aoun called on those who 'have faced the aggression' to 'rely solely on the Lebanese state'. 'You are too honorable to risk the state-building project, and too noble to provide pretexts for an aggression that wants to continue the war against us,' he said. Israel killed many Hezbollah commanders and thousands of its fighters last year, while also destr oying much of its arsenal. The U.S. proposal delivered in June would require Hezbollah to disarm within four months in exchange for the withdrawal of Israeli troops occupying several posts in south Lebanon, and a halt to Israeli air strikes. Hezbollah had already relinquished a number of weapons depots in southern Lebanon to the Lebanese army in line with a U.S.-brokered truce designed to end last year's war. Aoun said the proposals to be discussed next week include seeking $1 billion annually for 10 years to support the army and the security forces and plans for an international conference to later in the year to support reconstruction efforts. Upates Aoun has a point about the consequences that Lebanon could face if Hezbollah doesn't disarm : On Thursday Israel's defense minister Israel Katz said Hezbollah 'was working to restore its capabilities' in the sites that were targeted in south Lebanon. Katz also said the warplanes that attacked the Eastern Mountain Range in the Bekaa targeted Hezbollah's 'biggest precision missile production plant' in the country. Three Israeli airstrikestargeted Brital's outskirts, a strike targeted al-Nasriyeh's outskirts while eight strikes have targeted the heights of the southern towns of al-Aishiyeh, al-Mahmoudiyeh and al-Jarmaq. In another development Al-Arabiya reported that the Beirut airport has imposed strict inspection measures to prevent the smuggling of any funds. Hezbollah has been using the airport for smuggling cash from Iran and neighboring counties like Iraq and Turkey Al-Arabiya quoted diplomatic sources as saying : 'All Lebanese areas, including Beirut, will face the threat of bombardment if Hezbollah refuses to hand over its arms to the Lebanese army Al-Arabiya also quoted diplomatic sources as saying : Lebanon risks being put on the black list and will be facing economic pressure if Hezbollah does not disarm arms. President Aoun met in Baabda with U.S. Central Command chief Michael Kurilla and discussed with him the cooperation and ties between the Lebanese and U.S. armies Hezbollah's arms have become a huge burden for Lebanon and its Shiite community which suffered the most during the past 2 wars due to Hezbollah's miscalculations and inability to match Israeli military power. Tens of thousands of Shiite homes were destroyed and hundreds of thousands were displaced . No country in the world is willing to help Lebanon in reconstructing these homes unless Hezbollah disarms Reuters
LBCI
2 hours ago
- LBCI
Russia, Syria to bolster ties, review Assad-era agreements
Russia and Syria signalled Thursday they would bolster ties and review agreements made under the previous pro-Moscow government of Bashar al-Assad amid uncertainty over the future of two Russian military bases in the country. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani appealed for Russia's support at talks in Moscow, where Assad had reportedly fled after he was ousted after a lightning offensive by rebels last year. It was the first time a high-ranking Syrian official visited Russia, formerly Assad's biggest backer, since he was overthrown. "Of course, we are interested in having Russia by our side," Shaibani told his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, but said there were factors complicating relations. Russia's naval base in Tartus and its air base at Hmeimim -- both on Syria's Mediterranean coast -- are Moscow's only official military outposts outside the former Soviet Union. Moscow had used the bases extensively during its intervention in the civil war on Assad's side in 2015, with heavy air bombardments of rebel-held areas. It was unclear whether the new Islamist government would allow Moscow to keep its outposts in the country. Lavrov said Moscow was ready to help Syria rebuild after more than a decade of devastating conflict and to review "agreements and contracts concluded under different conditions." This was echoed by his Syrian counterpart, who said a review of the agreements was needed to understand whether they were "serving the needs of the Syrian people." Neither of the ministers mentioned whether the military bases' lease, which lasts till 2066, was under discussion. Syria needs "friends and partners" on its transition path, al-Shaibani told a press conference after the talks. Lavrov said Russia's historic support for Syria "doesn't depend on the political situation or changes of government." AFP
Nahar Net
2 hours ago
- Nahar Net
Aoun discusses military cooperation with senior US general
by Naharnet Newsdesk 31 July 2025, 17:55 President Joseph Aoun met Thursday in Baabda with U.S. Central Command chief General Michael Kurilla, who was accompanied by a U.S. military delegation and U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa Johnson. A Presidency statement said the talks tackled 'the ongoing cooperation between the Lebanese Army and the U.S. army and means to develop it in all fields.' 'Discussions also addressed the situation in the South, with Kurilla lauding what the Lebanese Army has so far achieved after its deployment in most southern towns and villages, pending the continuation of its deployment after the Israeli enemy forces withdraw from the Lebanese territory they are occupying,' the statement added. It said the talks also tackled 'President Aoun's firm stances on the monopolization of arms and the domestic and foreign responses to them.' 'The president stressed the need for boosting U.S. support for the Lebanese Army, which alone reflects the will of the Lebanese to see their country free, sovereign and independent. The talks also addressed the situation in Syria and the development of relations between the two neighborly countries,' the statement added.
