Daijiworld Media Network- Jerusalem

Jerusalem, May 22: In a fresh flare-up in the troubled Lebanon-Israel border region, the Israeli military on Wednesday claimed to have killed a senior commander from Hezbollah’s elite Radwan force during a drone strike in southern Lebanon’s Yater area.

In a brief statement, the Israeli army confirmed the targeted operation but did not disclose the identity of the slain commander. The Radwan force is considered a strategic wing of Hezbollah, reportedly responsible for planning cross-border incursions into Israel.

However, Lebanon’s official National News Agency (NNA), quoting Yater Municipality head Khalil Kourani, identified the deceased as Ali Hassan Abdel Latif Sweidan, who was allegedly operating an excavator to clear rubble from his home at the time of the attack.

The development comes just hours after the Israeli military said it had also eliminated Hussein Nazih Barji, a Hezbollah operative linked to the group’s weapons development unit, in a separate drone strike in the Tyre area, also in southern Lebanon.

The NNA confirmed the Tyre attack but did not confirm Barji’s affiliation with Hezbollah, adding a layer of ambiguity to the military’s claims.

These airstrikes mark a notable escalation in tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, despite a ceasefire agreement reached in November 2024 that halted 14 months of intense cross-border conflict. The truce has been fragile, with sporadic violations raising concerns of a potential resurgence of hostilities.

There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah on either of the alleged killings.

Analysts say the strikes could further strain Lebanon’s already delicate political and security situation, while Israeli officials continue to assert that preemptive actions are necessary to curb Hezbollah’s military capabilities.

As regional tensions simmer, international observers have urged both sides to exercise restraint and honor the ceasefire to prevent a renewed spiral of violence in the Middle East.