The Israeli military said on Thursday that it has significantly expanded operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon since the ceasefire began on April 16, claiming it has killed more than 220 operatives and commanders during ongoing strikes and ground activity in the area.
According to the Israeli army, the campaign targets individuals and infrastructure it considers threats to Israeli forces and civilians, amid ongoing tensions along the northern border despite diplomatic efforts to stabilize the situation and reduce hostilities.
“Radwan Force” Commander Targeted
The Israeli Defense Forces said Thursday that Ahmed Ghaleb Ballout was killed in what they described as a “precise strike” in Beirut’s southern suburbs, an area widely considered a Hezbollah stronghold.
According to the Israeli military, Ballout held several senior positions within the Radwan Force over the years, including serving as the unit’s operations commander. In that role, he was reportedly responsible for overseeing the force’s operational readiness and preparing fighters for potential confrontations with Israeli forces.
The IDF stated that Ballout was directing numerous operations against Israeli troops during the current conflict, particularly in southern Lebanon. These operations allegedly included anti-tank missile attacks and the deployment of explosive devices targeting Israeli military positions.
“Galilee Occupation Plan”
Particular emphasis was placed on what Israel refers to as Hezbollah’s “Galilee Occupation Plan,” an operational doctrine involving cross-border incursions into northern Israel during a future war. The Israeli military says the Radwan Force spent years developing and promoting the plan as part of Hezbollah’s broader military strategy.
According to official briefings by the IDF, the so-called “Conquer the Galilee” plan is described as a long-term Hezbollah operational concept developed after the 2006 Lebanon war.
These units would reportedly aim to overrun border communities near the Galilee, seize temporary control of towns, take hostages, and create chaos behind Israeli lines while Hezbollah launches massive rocket barrages to disrupt military responses and civilian evacuation. Israeli military assessments also claim the plan included extensive preparatory infrastructure in southern Lebanon, such as tunnels, fortified villages, weapons depots, and staging areas close to the border.
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