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The IDF conducted a drone strike on the Lebanese city of Sidon yesterday with the goal of stopping Hezbollah rebuilding efforts in the region. The Jerusalem Post reported that three operatives of the terror group were eliminated in the strike. Today, however, it was revealed that one of the Hezbollah terrorists was a former soldier in the Lebanese army. This fact was unknown to the IDF at the time of the strike.
It was unclear whether killing a Lebanese intelligence official would have negative diplomatic consequences or whether Lebanon would try to downplay the issue if it accepted Israel’s narrative.
All of this takes place as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with US President Donald Trump in Washington on December 29 to discuss many issues, including how far the parties will go in pressuring the Lebanese government to disarm Hezbollah, and what limits Trump will put on Israeli military actions in Lebanon.
There have been multiple instances of Lebanese army officials being caught working with Hezbollah in the past. This is the first instance of one of them being eliminated. As Israel stresses the importance of disarming the terror group, the Lebanese government has so far done little to do so. The IDF has gone on record saying that Hezbollah is rebuilding faster than they are being disarmed.
This month, the IDF has taken out various types of Hezbollah infrastructure, including training camps and rocket making sites. Before the strikes, the IDF issued evacuation orders to avoid civilian casualties. The IDF also reported that another one of the terrorists that were eliminated in yesterday’s strike was involved in making rockets in Sidon.
Israel faces enemies on many fronts. Shalom, peace, can feel elusive when violence motivated by anti-Semitism seems to surround the Holy Land. However, Israel and her people are never alone. The Fellowship and our supporters lift our prayers in these moments to remind them that, even when surrounded by threats, they have friends.
