Another Hezbollah Official Killed in Israeli Airstrike as Tensions Rise on Lebanese Border

Another Hezbollah Official Killed in Israeli Airstrike as Tensions Rise on Lebanese Border

Edited by:  Fern Sidman

In a significant escalation of tensions between Hezbollah and Israel, the Iranian-backed Lebanese terrorist organization confirmed the death of Nabil Kaouk, a high-ranking official, during an Israeli airstrike. This announcement came shortly after Hezbollah acknowledged the deaths of multiple commanders, including their longstanding leader Hassan Nasrallah. These incidents mark the latest developments in a near-daily exchange of fire that has continued since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war almost a year ago on October 7, following a brutal attack by the Gaza-based Palestinian terrorist group Hamas on Israeli territory.

According to JNS.org, the conflict has sparked widespread fears of a larger regional war. The Israeli military has been carrying out airstrikes and other operations targeting Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, as Hezbollah has continued to launch rocket and missile attacks against Israeli towns, primarily in the northern regions of the country. In response, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have increased their presence along the Blue Line, the border between Israel and Lebanon, and have begun to mobilize troops in preparation for a potential ground operation in southern Lebanon.

IDF Confirms Elimination of Kaouk, a major Hezbollah Nasrallah official who was powerful in both military and political roles, closely connected with #Nasrallah‘s successor, and prepared for future top leadership in the organization.
And Nabil Qaouk also eliminated.… pic.twitter.com/5AMGPk9WDP

— Sandeep Raj (@SandeepRaj65) September 29, 2024

Overnight on Saturday, reports surfaced that Israel may have already initiated small-scale cross-border incursions into Lebanon in an effort to counter Hezbollah’s aggressive activities. Citing two U.S. officials, ABC News suggested that these operations could be preliminary maneuvers ahead of a larger ground operation to clear Hezbollah positions near the border. While these operations are still in their infancy, the officials indicated that the primary aim of such incursions would be to neutralize Hezbollah’s ability to continue launching attacks on Israeli territory and to create conditions for the return of over 60,000 Israeli residents evacuated from northern towns due to the constant threat of rocket and drone attacks.

🚨Israel confirms the death of two more Hezbollah terrorists, Ali Karaki and Nabil Kaouk. May the devil have them.
🇮🇱 #PrayForIsrael #HezbollahTerrorists #Israel #Libanon pic.twitter.com/rHOmfnM2PB

— End Wokeness Brazil🇧🇷🇺🇸🇮🇱🇮🇹🇸🇻🇦🇷 (@EndWokenessBR) September 29, 2024

U.S. officials shared similar intelligence with CNN, noting that Israel’s troop mobilization at the Lebanese border appears to be a calculated effort to minimize civilian casualties in any potential conflict. However, they emphasized that any future ground operations would likely be limited in scope. The main objective remains to secure northern Israel and allow displaced residents to safely return to their homes after enduring almost a year of Hezbollah’s relentless bombardment in support of Hamas’s campaign against Israel.

As reported by JNS.org, Israel has kept its ground options open, with several officials from the IDF and the Israeli government warning that a full-scale incursion into Lebanon could still be on the table, depending on Hezbollah’s actions.

🚨 Nabil Kauk, Hezbollah’s deputy head of the operations council, was just eliminated. The decapitations continues. pic.twitter.com/jbkSxYcQJj

— Joseph Gelman (@ifofgot) September 28, 2024

The Israeli Defense Forces have been actively preparing for a possible incursion, with Lt. Col. (res.) Peter Lerner, an IDF spokesperson, confirming on Saturday that the army is considering various ground operation scenarios in Lebanon. While any operation would come with significant risks, IDF leaders believe that dismantling Hezbollah’s missile and rocket infrastructure near the border is essential for long-term security in northern Israel.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has been closely involved in overseeing the IDF’s preparedness. Late on Saturday, Gallant held an “operational situation assessment” to evaluate the potential expansion of IDF activities in the northern theater. Gallant’s office released a statement highlighting that military actions in northern Israel remain fluid and that decisions about a broader ground operation would depend on both intelligence assessments and developments on the ground.

According to JNS.org, Israel’s military leadership is acutely aware of the dangers posed by Hezbollah’s massive arsenal of advanced rockets, missiles, and drones supplied by Iran. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi emphasized this concern on September 25, stating that the military is prepared for the possibility of a large-scale ground operation to eliminate the threat from Hezbollah.

Although the Israeli government has not yet committed to a full-scale ground invasion of Lebanon, the continued attacks by Hezbollah have pushed Israeli leaders to consider such an option more seriously. As Hezbollah remains one of the most formidable non-state military forces in the Middle East, any ground incursion into Lebanon would present Israel with significant strategic challenges. However, the stakes are high for Jerusalem: the longer Hezbollah retains the capacity to launch attacks from southern Lebanon, the more vulnerable Israel’s northern towns remain.

🚨⚡Breaking: Nabil Kauk, Vice Chairman of the Executive Council

Eliminated in Beirut.

Hezbollah is falling like a house of cards

Someone who just yesterday did not receive a pager suddenly became significant

⚡And whoever replaces Nasrallah will become a persecuted mouse. pic.twitter.com/aJ5zQ4cC2r

— tzachi dado צחי דדו 🎗️ (@UsBnnxVURfS4lPJ) September 28, 2024

 As JNS.org notes, the conflict is not merely a local skirmish but part of a larger regional power struggle involving Iran, which provides significant financial and military backing to both Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. Israel’s potential ground operation could, therefore, have broader geopolitical implications, heightening tensions between Israel and Iran and possibly drawing in other regional actors.

On the northern front, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi recently addressed troops during a military drill, emphasizing that air operations are ongoing to pave the way for a possible incursion into Lebanon. “You can hear the planes above us; we are attacking all day. Both to prepare the area for the possibility of your entry [into Lebanon], and also to continue harming Hezbollah,” Halevi told the troops, as was reported by JNS.org.

Halevi outlined the strategic goal of these operations: to secure the safe return of Israeli residents who have been displaced from their homes in northern Israel due to repeated rocket attacks from Hezbollah. “To achieve the goal of safely returning residents to their abandoned homes in the north, we are preparing the [ground] maneuver,” he said. This marks one of the clearest indications yet that a broader conflict with Hezbollah may be on the horizon.

Yisrael targeted in Beirut Sheikh Nabil Qaouk.

Qaouk was a high ranking military and political member of Hizbollah and was about to be part of the future leaders of Hizbollah and part of the people responsible for its rehbilitation after Nasrallah’s death. pic.twitter.com/zB5MBdIRvn

— David Meir 🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱 (@C43LOcDWUss58oc) September 28, 2024

In a significant shift of military resources, Israel recently moved its elite 98th Paratroopers Division from the Gaza Strip to the northern front, signaling a readiness for potential escalation. As per the information provided in the JNS.org report, the division joined the 36th Armored Division under the IDF’s Northern Command, which has been tasked with preparing for a possible ground operation against Hezbollah positions along the Israeli-Lebanese border.

These units have been heavily engaged in combat against Hamas in the Gaza Strip over recent months, and their redeployment suggests that Israeli military planners are prioritizing the northern front as the more imminent threat. According to JNS.org, the 98th Paratroopers Division’s reassignment underscores the high level of concern within the IDF regarding Hezbollah’s capabilities, particularly its extensive stockpile of rockets, missiles, and drones supplied by Iran.

While Israel’s military preparations intensify, the U.S. government has voiced its opposition to a potential ground invasion of southern Lebanon. President Joe Biden, responding to a question about Israel’s plans during a press briefing in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, on Saturday, called for restraint, stating, “It’s time for a ceasefire.” Biden’s remarks reflect the broader stance of his administration, which is focused on preventing further escalation in the region.

According to reports from JNS.org, a senior U.S. official told the AFP on September 23 that Washington is firmly against any Israeli ground incursion into Lebanon. “We obviously do not believe that a ground invasion of Lebanon is going to contribute to reducing tensions in the region, to preventing an escalatory spiral of violence,” the official said. The U.S. is advocating for a diplomatic solution and has been actively working on what it describes as an “off-ramp” to the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. This would ideally involve de-escalation on both sides, reducing the risk of broader regional involvement, particularly from Iran.

The U.S. administration has made it clear that its primary concerns are twofold: preventing a ground invasion by the IDF into Lebanon and avoiding direct Iranian involvement in the conflict. The recent death of Hezbollah’s long-time leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut, has only heightened these concerns. JNS.org also reported that a U.S. official told Axios on Saturday that, in the wake of Nasrallah’s death, avoiding an Israeli ground incursion has become the Biden administration’s top priority.

As part of its diplomatic efforts, the U.S. is working with regional actors and international partners to reach a resolution that would allow displaced residents from both northern Israel and southern Lebanon to return to their homes. This goal aligns with Israel’s stated objective of securing the northern border and creating safe conditions for the return of over 60,000 Israeli citizens who were evacuated due to Hezbollah’s rocket and missile attacks.

However, as JNS.org reports, Israel’s military leadership remains adamant that Hezbollah poses a significant threat to its northern communities. With thousands of rockets still aimed at Israeli cities, IDF commanders are weighing the risks of a ground incursion against the imperative of dismantling Hezbollah’s military infrastructure near the border.

For now, Israel continues to prepare for a ground maneuver, while leaving the door open for a diplomatic resolution. The IDF’s Northern Command is conducting regular drills, while air operations targeting Hezbollah positions persist. The report on JNS.org indicated that Israel’s leadership, including Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, has made it clear that military actions remain fluid, and decisions about a ground operation will depend on both the situation on the ground and the success of diplomatic efforts.

JNS.org highlighted the delicate balancing act that Israel faces. On one hand, the Israeli government is under pressure to eliminate the Hezbollah threat and secure its northern border. On the other hand, there is a recognition that a ground invasion could provoke wider regional conflict, drawing in Iran and potentially even Syria. The involvement of U.S. diplomacy in the matter reflects the international dimension of the conflict, with Washington seeking to stabilize the situation and prevent a broader war in the Middle East.