The IDF also said its aircraft had carried out a new round of strikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut’s southern suburbs, where the group has a strong presence, and other areas of Lebanon on Tuesday.
Earlier, it announced that a strike in the capital on Monday had killed the commander of Hezbollah’s headquarters, Suhail Husseini. He oversaw logistics, budgeting and management for the group and played “a crucial role” in weapons transfers from Iran, it added.
Hezbollah did not comment on the claim. But if confirmed, it would be the latest in a series of severe blows Israel has dealt to the group, with Hassan Nasrallah and most of its military commanders having been killed in similar strikes in recent weeks.
Hashem Safieddine, a top Hezbollah official who was widely expected to succeed his cousin Nasrallah as leader, has also not been heard from publicly since an Israeli air strike reportedly targeted him in Beirut last Thursday.
“Hezbollah is an organisation without a head. Nasrallah was eliminated, his replacement was probably also eliminated,” Yoav Gallant said in a brief video released by the IDF, without providing further details. “There’s no-one to make decisions, no-one to act.”
Hezbollah’s deputy leader said in a defiant televised address on Tuesday morning that its command and control was “solid” and had “no vacant positions”, citing its attacks on Israel in recent days.
“We are hurting them and we will prolong the time. Dozens of cities are within range of the resistance’s missiles. We assure you that our capabilities are fine,” Naim Qassem said.
His speech coincided with the launch of more than 100 rockets towards Haifa Bay, as well as the Lower, Central and Upper Galilee regions.
The IDF said most of the rockets were intercepted, but some landed and caused some damage to buildings, including a school. There were no serious casualties.
On Sunday night, there was a direct hit on Haifa – something which had not happened since Israel and Hezbollah last fought a war in 2006.
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