The Israeli Air Force struck the Lebanese capital of Beirut overnight for the first time in nearly a month. The target of the precision strike was the commander of Hezbollah’s Radwan Force, according to the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs — a Hezbollah stronghold — was carried out on the explicit orders of Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz. According to Ynet, the two said in a joint statement: “The Radwan terrorists under his command are responsible for firing on Israeli communities and attacking IDF soldiers. No terrorist is untouchable — Israel’s long arm will reach every enemy and every murderer.”

Radwan is considered Hezbollah’s elite force. Its declared objective is to infiltrate Israeli territory, seize communities in the north and take hostages — a plan known as the so-called “Conquer the Galilee” scheme.

According to JNS, the last Israeli strike on Beirut before this one took place on April 8. Since March 2, Hezbollah has again been firing rockets and drones at Israel, after Israel eliminated Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Feb. 28 as part of Operation “Roaring Lion.”

Shortly before the strike, Hezbollah again violated the limits of the ceasefire on Wednesday: Two Israeli soldiers were seriously wounded by kamikaze drones south of the ceasefire line, while three others suffered light injuries. Rocket and aircraft sirens were triggered in Kiryat Shmona, Kibbutz Manara and Moshav Margaliot, sending around 25,000 people into shelters.

Netanyahu recently accused Hezbollah of effectively dismantling the US-mediated ceasefire, which had been extended on April 23 for three weeks, through its continued attacks.

The current escalation is part of a series of targeted Israeli strikes against Hezbollah’s leadership structure, including the elimination of several senior Radwan commanders in recent months.

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