IDF Chief of Staff, Herzi Halevi has stated that Israeli forces are very determined to hit Hezbollah “as hard as possible.”

Referring to airstrikes that killed former Hezbollah Secretary General, Hassan Nasrallah and other top leaders, he said, “We have taken out their entire command layer.”

“Hezbollah is hiding casualties, hiding dead commanders. We estimate that we have killed some 1,500 Hezbollah operatives and our estimates are conservative, I imagine there are more that we don’t know about from dozens of strikes.”
Herzi Halevi

Halevi claimed that Hezbollah’s Iranian backers “also don’t understand what is happening here to Hezbollah.” “And they are their main arm that they have been counting on, and that is very important,” he added.

Halevi’s statement came after the Lebanese paramilitary group said that the war with Israel was entering a new phase.

Hezbollah added that it has introduced new weapons over the past days. “In this phase, precision-guided missiles are being used for the first time in addition to a new kind of suicide drone,” the statement read.

“We targeted with artillery shells the movements of Israeli enemy soldiers after spotting them on the outskirts of the town of Kfar Kila. We bombed for the second time a gathering of enemy soldiers in the vicinity of the town of Aita al-Shaab while they were trying to evacuate the dead and wounded.”
Hezbollah

The group also announced earlier this week that it fired a new type of missile called “Qader 2” towards the suburbs of Tel Aviv.

In another statement, the Lebanese group, like other Hamas allies, offered its deepest condolences over the killing of Hamas Chief, Yahya Sinwar.

It pledged to continue its “support for our Palestinian people.”

Iranian President, Masoud Pezeshkian also issued a statement offering condolences over the killing of Yahya Sinwar and condemning Israel for his death.

“The news of the assassination and martyrdom of the steadfast fighter, Yahya Sinwar, Head of the Hamas Political Bureau, is both painful and heartbreaking for freedom lovers around the world, especially the brave people of Palestine.

“However, it also clearly highlights the ongoing atrocities of the occupying and child-killing Zionist regime.”
Masoud Pezeshkian

He added that Sinwar fought “heroically” in the final moments before his death.

He said that the struggle against aggression and the fight to restore freedom and liberation to the rightful owners of the occupied lands is a great movement and a noble cause. “It will not be stopped by the assassination or elimination of heroes in this battle,” he said.

Additionally, a spokesman for the Houthis said that the Yemeni group is mourning Sinwar following his killing in Gaza. “My sincere condolences and great blessings to the Hamas movement and the dear Palestinian people for the great leader Yahya Sinwar receiving the medal of martyrdom,” Mohammed Abdulsalam wrote on X.

He added that Gaza and the Palestinian cause are destined for victory, no matter how great the sacrifices.

Lebanon’s Mikati Urge Diplomatic Solution

Meanwhile, Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni agreed that a diplomatic solution must take precedence over violence.

This, Mikati, disclosed, at a news conference during a visit by the Italian leader. “What is happening today is a lesson for all Lebanese to stay out of regional conflicts,” Mikati said.

Italy has around 1,000 troops as part of the UN’s peacekeeping force in Lebanon, which has come under repeated fire in recent days.

Five peacekeepers were injured in a series of incidents last week, with the latest seeing the UN force accuse Israeli troops of breaking through a gate and entering one of their positions.