The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have confirmed the elimination of Muhammad Ahmed Kharis, Hezbollah&rsquo;s anti-tank commander, in a precision airstrike in southern Lebanon.
Kharis, based in Hezbollah&rsquo;s Shebaa compound in the Nabatiya region, was responsible for several anti-tank operations, including an April 26 attack on Mount Dov that killed Israeli citizen Sharif Su'ad, the IDF said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).
The military described Kharis as a key figure in promoting Hezbollah&rsquo;s aggressive operations, violating existing understandings between Lebanon and Israel.
Simultaneously, the IDF intensified Operation Rising Lion, a major offensive launched last week targeting Iran&rsquo;s military and nuclear infrastructure.
The IDF revealed that 40 Israeli fighter jets struck over 100 targets across Iran, including a non-operational nuclear reactor in Arak, intended for plutonium production, and weapons development facilities in Natanz.
&ldquo;These targets were involved in accelerating Iran&rsquo;s nuclear weapons program,&rdquo; said the IDF, adding that missile factories, air defence systems, radars, and storage facilities were destroyed.
The strikes are Israel's response to what it describes as &ldquo;direct threats&rdquo; from Iran. The Israeli military emphasised that it remains committed to neutralising any threat posed by Iran and its regional proxies, including Hezbollah.
The conflict, which escalated dramatically on June 13, is pushing the region dangerously close to a broader confrontation, with mutual retaliatory strikes intensifying daily.
[Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed.]
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Israel Eliminates Top Hezbollah Commander in Lebanon Strike

IDF also targets Iran’s nuclear sites in major escalation of Operation Rising Lion

Israel Eliminates Top Hezbollah Commander in Lebanon Strike

IDF also targets Iran’s nuclear sites in major escalation of Operation Rising Lion

June 19, 2025 | 19:34 IST