Israel on Monday said its military carriedout an airstrike thatkilled Abu Ali Rida, a Hezbollah commander, in southern Lebanon. Rida wasreportedlyresponsible for commanding operations in the region of Baraachit, whereheallegedlytook part in planning and carryingout attacks against Israeli forces situated along the Lebanese border.

Who was Abu Ali Rida, and what was his role?

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have described Rida as a strategic figure in the military operationsofHezbollah. According to the IDF, he played a central role in organizing and directing rocket and anti-tank missile assaults on Israeli troops. Israel holds him responsible for leading the activities of Hezbollah operatives in the area, which the IDF stated in an official report. However, noinformationwasreceivedfrom the militaryregardingthetimeframeof the attack.

Intensified clashes in Southern Lebanon

The strike against Rida is the latest in a series of escalating attacks that have defined the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah since the renewed hostilities in late September. In recent weeks, according to press accounts, Israel has shelled and killed several membersof Hezbollah'shighcommand: includingseveralranking officers; as well as former secretary-generalHassan Nasrallah: meanwhile, violenceacross the Lebanon border persistsandintensifies.

Background on the Israel-Hezbollah conflict

The two countries were at hostilities witheachotherfor months as cross-border fire occurredepisodically. Hezbollah has been supporting its ally Hamas in Gaza with frequent rocket attacks into northern Israel. This confrontation isoneofthe largest with Hamas in Gaza, Israelhas had since a major assault by Hamas on southern Israeli areas on October 7 last year.Itmarked one of the deadliest periods of warfare in the region.

It thus underlines the intricacy that the growing conflict has adopted, now thatIsraelbeginstofight both Hamas, in Gaza, and the forces of Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.