IDF strikes Lebanon-Syria border crossing, kills Radwan commander amid heavy fighting in southern Lebanon

Amid heavy fighting that resulted in the deaths of 10 IDF soldiers, and nearly 30 more wounded since Wednesday, the Israeli army continued to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon’s villages. The Israeli Air Force (IAF) struck dozens of targets, including a border crossing and a senior field commander.

On Friday, the IDF said it struck the Jousieh border crossing in the northern Bekaa Valley overnight “using precision munitions to minimize harm to uninvolved civilians.”

One of the main goals of the IAF’s campaign is to degrade Hezbollah’s weapons storage and production capabilities while disrupting its supply lines for weapons and ammunition.

“Hezbollah exploits the Jousieh civilian crossing, which is under the control of the Syrian regime and is operated by Syrian military security, to transfer weapons from Syria to Lebanon by Hezbollah’s 4400 Unit,” the IDF said.

מטוסי קרב של חיל האוויר, בהכוונת אגף המודיעין תקפו במהלך הלילה תשתיות צבאיות של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה במעבר הגבול ג׳וסיה בצפון הבקעא>> pic.twitter.com/klvzlajAtP

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) October 25, 2024

“The IDF will continue to operate to thwart Hezbollah’s weapons transfers and urges Syrian and Lebanese authorities to prevent the Hezbollah terrorist organization's unrestricted movement between the two countries.”

The IAF also struck more weapon production sites in Beirut, as well as intelligence headquarters and sites belonging to Hezbollah’s air defense system. “All of the targets were located under and inside buildings in the heart of a civilian population,” the IDF noted.

במהלך הלילה, מטוסי קרב של חיל האוויר, בהכוונה מודיעינית מדויקת של אגף המודיעין תקפו בביירות מספר אתרים לייצור אמצעי לחימה ומפקדות של מטה המודיעין ומערך ההגנה האווירית של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה>> pic.twitter.com/8o7g0MKLDb

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) October 25, 2024

Another strike killed the commander of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force in the Aitaroun district, Abbas Adnan Musallam.

“Musallam was responsible for the execution of many launches against IDF forces and against Israeli towns in the north of the country,” the army said.

Overall, IAF jets attacked about 200 terror targets in Lebanon in the past 24 hours.

On the ground, several IDF soldiers were killed in ambushes and rocket attacks in the past few days. Despite this, the head of the IDF Northern Command, Maj.-Gen. Uri Gordin, said this week that Israeli troops were defeating Hezbollah fighters in every sector.

“All the defensive areas we attacked have been defeated. We are determined to reach every [tunnel] shaft, every underground site, every stockpile of weapons,” he added.

During the past 24 hours, soldiers of the Alexandroni Brigade killed several terrorists and destroyed numerous buildings used by Hezbollah forces.

Forces of the 146th Division attacked more than 50 terrorist infrastructures, anti-tank positions and military buildings in southern Lebanon, while soldiers of the 98th Division detected and eliminated a terror squad that tried to ambush them.

Soldiers of the Carmeli Brigade, which lost four soldiers on Wednesday evening, continued their attack on Hezbollah targets, locating massive weapons depots underground.

“There is an amount of ammunition that’s enough for a company here,” said the brigade commander in a short clip released by the IDF.

11 truckloads of weapons were found by our troops in 2 underground terrorist compounds in southern Lebanon.

Kornet missiles, launchers, hand grenades, various types of rifles, and other weapons were seized and brought back to Israel.

Like any other country would, we will… pic.twitter.com/Y8CXEjl3bX

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 25, 2024

The store contained Cornet anti-tank missiles and launchers, hand grenades, rifles, and more. Eleven trucks were needed to transport the contents of the depot back to Israel.

Earlier, the IDF had released detailed footage showing hideouts and weapons depots of the Radwan Force, that were intended to be used in a planned operation against Israel's Galilee region.

“IDF troops located bunk beds, storage cabinets, food supplies, infrastructure for long-term stay, a large amount of equipment, weapons and launch positions… our troops also located 4 weapons storage facilities with rockets, mortars, RPGs and more.”

⭕️ UNCOVERED: Underground hideout belonging to the Radwan Forces for their “Conquer the Galilee” plan.

In the hideout, IDF troops located bunk beds, storage cabinets, food supplies, infrastructure for long-term stay, a large amount of equipment, weapons and launch positions.… pic.twitter.com/cI87i0cPgm

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 24, 2024