IDF Chief Halevi estimates at least 1,500 Hezbollah terrorists killed, some surrender

IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi announced on Friday that the Israeli military has eliminated at least 1,500 Hezbollah terrorists since the IDF ground operation in Lebanon began on Oct. 1, and said the Iranian-backed terrorist group's chain of command is disintegrating.

"Their entire chain of command is collapsing. Hezbollah is hiding casualties, including dead commanders. Our conservative estimate is that 1,500 operatives have been killed, likely more, given the scale of the strikes," Halevi stated during a meeting with top IDF Northern Command leaders.

“We are determined to strike Hezbollah as hard as possible. We’ve taken out their entire senior command and are wiping out their local leadership," the IDF chief added.

Over the past month, the IDF has eliminated of most Hezbollah's top commanders, including its top leader Hassan Nasrallah, while conducting operations in Lebanon.

"These are significant achievements," Halevi continued, stressing that a growing number of Hezbollah terrorists have begun to surrender.

"Their willingness to surrender speaks volumes about their morale and self-confidence, as well as the combat capabilities you've demonstrated."

One Hezbollah terrorist who was recently captured told IDF investigators that most Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon fled the area ahead of the Israel ground operation. However, IDF troops have continued to discover and eliminate Hezbollah cells in the villages of southern Lebanon.

Halevi assessed that the Islamic Republic of Iran, which sponsors Hezbollah, may not even be aware of how severely Israeli forces have degraded its proxy forces in Lebanon.

"Even Iran may not fully grasp what’s happening to Hezbollah, its main proxy. Every day we’re delivering tough surprises, and you’ll continue bringing them – achieving victories while preventing the enemy from doing the same,” the IDF chief said.

Hezbollah launched an unprovoked attack on northern Israel on Oct. 8 of last year, just one day after Hamas terrorists invaded southern Israeli border communities and massacred as many as 1,200 men, women and children, as well as kidnapping 251 Israelis and foreign nationals into Gaza, 97 of whom are still being held in captivity. It is unclear how many of them are still alive.

Hezbollah has fired some 10,000 rockets, missiles and drones into Israel over the past year, killing dozens of Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers. Furthermore, at least 60,000 Israelis have been forced to evacuate their homes and communities in the north as a result of the ongoing Hezbollah rocket and missile attacks. Hezbollah has stated that its attacks against Israel are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, including Hamas Before his death, Hezbollah chief Nasrallah, vowed to continue attacking Israel until some Gaza agreement was reached.

In early October, a severely weakened Hezbollah indicated its willingness to reach an unconditional ceasefire with Israel.

The acting head of Hezbollah, Naim Qassem, stated: “We support the political efforts that Nabih Berri is undertaking towards a ceasefire.”

Following the recent elimination of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Gaza, it is unclear whether a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel is feasible at the moment.

Hezbollah, an ally of Hamas, has vowed to escalate its attacks on Israel following Sinwar's death and has claimed it is in the midst of a “transition to a new and escalatory phase.”