Hezbollah Air Force Commander Killed in Israeli Airstrike in Southern Lebanon

Another senior commander of Hezbollah, responsible for dozens of drone attacks on northern Israel in recent months, including the attack on Tuesday, January 9, on the Israeli army's command center in the northern city of Safed, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon. The Times of Israel reported that the vehicle carrying Ali-Hossein Barji, the commander of Hezbollah's Air Force in southern Lebanon, was targeted in 'Kharbeh Salam' before the funeral of Wassem Tawil, a senior Hezbollah commander who was killed on Monday, January 8. Hezbollah, the group backed by the Islamic Republic, attacked an Israeli army base with a drone on Tuesday, calling the action part of its response to 'recent Israeli assassinations in Lebanon.' An Israeli army spokesperson, without specifying the exact location of the attack, stated that a base in the north was targeted in an airstrike that resulted in no damage or casualties. Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have escalated since Hamas's attack on Israel on October 6, forcing tens of thousands to flee from both sides of the Lebanon-Israel border. The exchange of fire between Israel and Hezbollah continues while U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell are traveling to find ways to prevent the spread of the Israel-Hamas war to the region. Naim Qassem, the deputy leader of Hezbollah, stated in a televised speech that the group does not wish to escalate the war, adding that if Israel does escalate, a 'maximum response' to deter Israel is inevitable. Following the assassination of Saleh al-Arouri, a senior Hamas leader, in southern Beirut, tensions between Hezbollah and Israel have intensified. While both Iranian-backed militant groups have accused Israel of carrying out this assassination, Israel has neither confirmed nor denied the killing of Saleh al-Arouri. Candice Ardil, a spokesperson for the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon, stated, 'We have witnessed more attacks in recent days, which is a worrying trend.' Meanwhile, the Israeli army announced that its air force attacked Hezbollah targets in the border village of Kfar Kila and a drone squad belonging to the group at another location in southern Lebanon. Associated Press: Concerns are rising about the onset of a 'full-scale war' in the region. The killing of a senior Hezbollah commander in an Israeli attack in southern Lebanon has been reported, with reports indicating that Israeli attacks on Hezbollah have intensified. Blinken in Qatar: Palestinians should be able to return home after the war ends. Netanyahu: The war will continue until 'all objectives' are achieved; Hezbollah should know that no terrorist is safe.