IDF Operations in Gaza & Lebanon Target Key Terror Figures & Infrastructure in Response to Ongoing Threats

IDF Operations in Gaza & Lebanon Target Key Terror Figures & Infrastructure in Response to Ongoing Threats

Edited by: Fern Sidman

In the latest escalation of its targeted operations against terrorist forces, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that over the past week, it has successfully eliminated high-profile Hamas and Hezbollah commanders responsible for attacks on Israeli soil. This series of operations spans both Gaza and Lebanon, underscoring the IDF’s broad strategy of countering threats on multiple fronts. According to a report on Sunday in The Jerusalem Post, these strikes are part of Israel’s intensified military response following the brutal October 7 massacre and the ongoing hostilities on Israel’s northern border.

🚨BREAKING: Israeli Air Force aircraft Eliminated Rafat Ibrahim Mahmoud Akdih – a Nakhba terrorist who raided Kibbutz Nir Oz in the murderous massacre on October 7th. pic.twitter.com/3zaOoO9Sdw

— נועה מגיד | Noa magid (@NoaMagid) November 3, 2024

 One of the primary targets in Gaza was Rafat Ibrahim Mahmud Akadih, a senior member of Hamas’s Nukhba forces. On October 7, Akadih infiltrated Kibbutz Nir Oz, participating in the massacre that claimed hundreds of Israeli lives. During the subsequent weeks, he served as the aide to the Nukhba commander of Hamas’s Khan Yunis Brigade. Nukhba is known to be Hamas’s elite combat unit, often tasked with the group’s most strategically significant operations.

The IDF located and eliminated Akadih in an airstrike within the Gaza Strip, an action guided by precise intelligence. According to The Jerusalem Post report, the strike on Akadih is part of Israel’s broader campaign to dismantle Hamas’s command structure and operational capacity in Gaza, which the IDF has intensified since the outbreak of the current conflict.

In addition to the targeted airstrike on Akadih, IDF ground troops from the 162nd Division have been actively engaging in northern Gaza, particularly in Jabalya, where they have reportedly eliminated dozens of terrorists in intense ground combat. These operations in Jabalya are part of the IDF’s strategy to secure northern Gaza and dismantle the infrastructure of Hamas’s terrorist cells, which have used the region as a launch pad for attacks into Israel.

IDF : eliminated Islamic Jihad terrorist Rafat Ibrahim Mahmoud Akdeh who took part in the infiltration of Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, and served as assistant casualty officer of Khan Yunis Brigade.
Also…[IDF eliminated]…terrorists in…Jabaliya in north Gaza Strip…
ynet

— Israel Relief Aid (Registered Israeli Non-Profit) (@IsraelReliefAid) November 3, 2024

Elsewhere in central and southern Gaza, IDF soldiers have successfully located and dismantled weapons caches, while eliminating terror cells that were embedded within the urban areas. These weapons and terror cells, according to The Jerusalem Post, posed a direct threat to Israeli communities, and their removal significantly reduces the operational capacity of Hamas forces across Gaza. By pushing into these heavily fortified regions, IDF ground troops aim to reclaim control over areas previously used by Hamas to launch rockets and coordinate attacks.

Jabalya under heavy fire. Hamas are surrendering in hundreds, the defeat is inevitable, but Hamas like Hamas still acts like the big winner. Its demands stay the same: return to the position it was before the war.
So what was it good for? pic.twitter.com/iXuTlUfSuc

— Itamar Avni / Chief Hasbara Officer (@AvniItamar) October 31, 2024

In parallel with operations in Gaza, the IDF has also conducted precise strikes against Hezbollah commanders in southern Lebanon. The Jerusalem Post reported that the IDF eliminated Faruk Amin El-Asi, a Hezbollah commander based in the Khiam region. El-Asi was responsible for launching projectiles into the Galilee Panhandle, specifically targeting Metulla, one of Israel’s northernmost communities.

IAF STRIKE AND ELIMINATE THE MILITANT FAROUK AMIN ALASI, THE HEZBOLLAH COMMANDER OF THE KHIAM AREA.#HezbollahTerroristshttps://t.co/QGGh3Hd6Pd

— CUTTER DRIFTWOOD (@CutterDriftwood) November 3, 2024

Alongside El-Asi, the IDF also neutralized Yussef Ahmed Nun, a squadron commander in Hezbollah’s Radwan Force, an elite Hezbollah unit known for its specialized combat capabilities. Nun, a key figure in the Khiam area, was responsible for leading numerous projectile launches against northern Israel and IDF positions stationed along the border. The elimination of these commanders not only disrupts Hezbollah’s immediate operational capacity but also sends a clear message to the group’s leadership that Israeli intelligence and military reach extend deep into southern Lebanon.

Additional Radwan Force terrorists were also killed through close-quarters combat and aerial strikes, a move that reflects Israel’s determination to dismantle Hezbollah’s high-impact units. The Jerusalem Post noted that the Radwan Force is considered Hezbollah’s elite fighting division, with extensive training and capabilities that exceed those of standard Hezbollah militias. The elimination of Radwan personnel thus marks a significant blow to Hezbollah’s ability to sustain aggressive actions along Israel’s northern frontier.

Observe how the commander of the Radwan force in Ayta al-Sha’ab, surrendering like a frightened cockroach, gave in to the IDF. They are only heroes for shooting at civilians. pic.twitter.com/cv77MdsU4F

— Ringo 🇮🇱🎗✡️ (@Ringo496351) October 29, 2024

The recent operations underscore Israel’s strategic priority of maintaining national security on both its southern and northern borders. The October 7 massacre, which saw approximately 1,200 Israelis killed and over 250 taken hostage, has prompted Israel to ramp up its counter-terrorism efforts across the region. The IDF’s operations in Gaza seek to dismantle Hamas’s command structure, targeting high-ranking terrorists and tactical units that have long posed a direct threat to Israeli civilians. According to the report in The Jerusalem Post, Israel’s response has involved increased airstrikes and ground offensives aimed at removing Hamas’s military capability in densely populated regions.

Here’s a terrorist from Radwan getting personal treatment. Enjoy.

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Comment with a flag – the more flags, the more 🍉 will see it. pic.twitter.com/N9nGxidvtd

— daniel hanukha (@israelifihther) October 29, 2024

Meanwhile, Israel’s actions in southern Lebanon aim to neutralize Hezbollah’s growing threat to its northern communities. Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force has, in recent months, escalated projectile launches toward Israel, provoking Israeli countermeasures that have taken out strategic Hezbollah assets and command centers.

By targeting leaders in both Hamas and Hezbollah, Israel is working to disrupt the operational continuity of these organizations, especially as they attempt to leverage each other’s presence and influence in Gaza and Lebanon, respectively. The Jerusalem Post report pointed out that the IDF’s ability to operate effectively across both Gaza and Lebanon simultaneously demonstrates its commitment to a comprehensive security strategy that mitigates threats from Iranian-backed entities on both fronts.

The elimination of key figures within Hamas and Hezbollah signals Israel’s unwavering commitment to protecting its borders from coordinated threats, particularly as both groups have recently shown increased collaboration in their operations against Israel. By strategically targeting Nukhba and Radwan commanders, the IDF is sending a powerful message of deterrence to Iranian-aligned groups operating along Israel’s borders.

However, with tensions remaining high, the likelihood of continued hostilities and IDF operations in both Gaza and Lebanon appears substantial. As The Jerusalem Post report concluded, Israel’s recent operations indicate a long-term commitment to destabilizing the command structures of both Hamas and Hezbollah, particularly in regions where these groups have historically wielded significant influence. The IDF’s ongoing operations are part of a broader defense strategy designed to ensure that Israel remains resilient against threats from both its southern and northern neighbors, even as regional dynamics continue to shift.