IDF kills next top commander, bombs Hezbollah supply routes amid continued rocket fire on Israel

Israel strikes aerial array chief in fourth targeted strike in Beirut within a week

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Despite the mounting pressure for a ceasefire, Israel and Hezbollah terrorist forces continued exchanging fire on Thursday, with the IDF killing another top Hezbollah commander in Lebanon's capital Beirut.

Thursday afternoon IDF said it had carried out a targeted strike in Beirut’s Dahiyeh district, with social media footage showing damage to one apartment in a multi-story building.

The IDF later confirmed it had killed Muhammad Hussein Sarour, the head of Hezbollah's aerial array, which operates the terror group’s drones, cruise missiles and anti-aircraft missiles.

היום, 26 בספטמבר 2024, בהכוונה מודיעינית מדוייקת של חיל האוויר ואגף המודיעין, מטוסי קרב תקפו בביירות וחיסלו את מחמד חסין סרור, מפקד היחידה האווירית של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה>> pic.twitter.com/9btewwdOwE
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) September 26, 2024

Sarour "was one of the project leaders for the production of unmanned aerial vehicles in Lebanon, and built sites to produce explosive and surveillance drones in Lebanon, some of which were located under civilian buildings in the capital," the army said.

"Sarour joined the terrorist organization Hezbollah in the 1980s and performed a variety of positions, including commander of the surface-to-air missile unit, the "Aziz" unit in the Radwan force, and was Hezbollah's emissary to Yemen regarding the Houthi terrorist regime's air array. During the 'Iron Swords' war, he promoted and executed many drone attacks," according to the IDF.

After days of intense bombardment, the IDF persisted in striking Hezbollah targets through the night, stating in the morning that it had hit around 75 targets in the Bekaa Valley and southern Lebanon.

Overnight, IDF soldiers opened fire after identifying suspicious movements on the northern border fence near Manara. Fearing an infiltration attempt, troops searched the area but didn’t encounter additional terrorists.

Later in the morning, Hezbollah resumed its rocket fire after having paused since around 8 p.m. on Wednesday, further sparking speculations that a truce was about to be declared.

Israeli and Lebanese officials denied the reports later during the day.

Journalist Muhammad Majadala reports:
عكا: سقوط غالبية القذائف في البحر
Acre: Most of the rockets (launched by #Hezbollah - AA) fell in the sea.

Hezbollah has reset... after the chickens, cows, and goats, maybe they are now targeting the #Israeli fishing industry (: pic.twitter.com/AiwDnJj4wu
— Abu Ali Express English (@AbuAliEnglishB1) September 26, 2024

Shortly before noon on Thursday, Hezbollah fired a 45-rocket barrage at the area of the city of Acre, with footage on social media showing most of the rockets falling into the Gulf of Haifa, off the coast. The IDF later stated it had struck the launcher used in the attack.

Dispelling rumors of an informal truce, the IDF promptly announced another wave of airstrikes.

“The IDF continues to attack, damage and degrade the military capabilities and infrastructure of the terrorist organization Hezbollah,” the army stated.

IAF fighter jets struck infrastructure along the Syria-Lebanon border used by Hezbollah to transfer weapons from Syria to Hezbollah in Lebanon, which the terrorist army used against Israeli civilians.

The IDF will continue to strike and act against the Hezbollah terrorist… pic.twitter.com/rZ9JaueH4I
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) September 26, 2024

In the afternoon, Israel Defense Forces announced, for the first time, that it had struck seven border crossings between Lebanon and Syria.

“Fighter jets of the Air Force recently attacked infrastructures on the Syria-Lebanon border, which are used by the terrorist organization Hezbollah to transfer weapons from Syrian territory to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Hezbollah uses these means of warfare against the citizens of the State of Israel.”

“The IDF works resolutely to prevent the entry of weapons into Lebanon and the arming of Hezbollah,” the army stated.

Later in the day, Hezbollah launched additional rocket volleys toward the area of Safed and Kiryat Shmona, without causing injuries or serious damage. The IDF said it identified around 40 rockets fired in the attack, most of which landed in open areas.

Shortly after, another 40-rocket volley targeted Safed. Overall, Hezbollah had fired around 150 rockets by 6 p.m.

Meanwhile, the IDF has continued drilling its soldiers in preparation for a possible ground incursion into Lebanon.

The IDF stated that troops of the 7th Armored Brigade wrapped up an exercise simulating a maneuver on Lebanese territory.

“The exercise took place several kilometers from the Lebanese border and practiced the forces in maneuvering and fighting in a tangled and mountainous terrain,” the IDF stated.