IDF: ‘Central terrorist’ in Hezbollah’s air defense unit, member of elite Radwan unit killed in Lebanon strikes
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
Two top Hezbollah operatives were killed in Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon this morning and overnight, the military says.
The target of this morning’s drone strike in Aadloun, near the coastal city of Tyre, was Hussein Azqul, who the IDF says was a “central terrorist” in Hezbollah’s air defense unit.
Azqul, according to the IDF, was “heavily involved in the activities of the [air defense unit] and took part in the planning and execution of a variety of terror activities.”
The military says his death is a “significant blow” to Hezbollah’s air defense unit.
The overnight strike in southern Lebanon killed Muhammad Attiya, who the IDF says is a member of the aerial unit of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan force.
Attiya was “involved in the preparation and execution of terrorist attacks” against Israel, the IDF says.
Hezbollah confirmed the deaths of both Azqul and Attiya, saying they were killed “on the road to Jerusalem,” its term for operatives slain in Israeli strikes.
Their deaths bring the terror group’s toll amid the war in Gaza to 287.
צה״ל תקף וחיסל הבוקר באמצעות כלי טיס של חיל האוויר במרחב דרום לבנון, את חסין עלי עזקול, מחבל מרכזי במערך ההגנה האווירית של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה בדרום לבנון.
עזקול היה מעורב רבות בפעילות המערך ולקח חלק בתכנון וההוצאה לפועל של מגוון פעילויות טרור>> pic.twitter.com/ePQSOXWwvU
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) April 23, 2024
