Hezbollah terrorists killed, 2 IDF troops slightly wounded in close quarter combat

Two IDF soldiers were lightly wounded on Thursday during a close-quarters engagement in southern Lebanon during which the troops killed a Hezbollah terrorist, the IDF said.

The engagement came amid a “targeted ground operation” conducted by the 162nd Division to bolster the military’s forward position in the country, the IDF added.

Soldiers in the area also located "numerous weapons, including rifles, vests, grenades, and additional weapons," the IDF said.

Meanwhile, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on Thursday that there was no end in sight to the war between Hezbollah and Israel.

Katz to Hezbollah chief Qassem: You will 'not live to see' Israel’s full response

Amid the operations, Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem that he would not live to see the extent of the “very heavy price” the group would pay for its earlier attacks on Israel during Passover, saying he would be “at the bottom of hell” alongside slain members of Iran and its proxy network.

Katz’s comments came following a Thursday situational assessment with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and other top military officials at “the pit,” the IDF’s command center beneath the Kiyra military compound. IDF soldiers are seen operating in southern Lebanon, April 1, 2026.Earlier that morning, military sources said that the IDF had begun demolishing homes in southern Lebanese villages located along the border with Israel.

According to the sources, the houses targeted by the military were used by the Hezbollah terrorist group as bases to launch anti-tank fire and conduct reconnaissance of Israeli forces.The demolitions were being carried out in accordance with orders issued by Defense Minister Israel Katz, who last week instructed the IDF to begin destroying homes and bridges south of the Litani River.

"We have ordered an acceleration in the destruction of Lebanese homes in contact-line villages to neutralize threats to Israeli communities, in accordance with the model of Beit Hanun and Rafah in Gaza," Katz said at the time, adding that the military will continue to allow residents of southern Lebanon to evacuate northward.

IDF in Southern Lebanon April 1, 2026

IDF captures Hezbollah terrorists, sources observe 'low morale' among fightersEarlier, IDF divisions continued their ground incursion into southern Lebanon overnight on Wednesday, maneuvering deeper into Lebanese territory, security sources said.

Several Hezbollah fighters were detained as prisoners of war after surrendering to Israeli forces in the past 24 hours, sources added, saying they were transferred over for interrogation.IDF sources observed "low morale" among the terrorists who were captured, most from the capital, Beirut. Other fighters were said to have managed to flee north of the Litani River.Furthermore, the fighters were said to have employed heavy guerrilla warfare, using the demolished homes as hiding spots between rounds of fire aimed at Israeli troops.

Last week, defense sources told The Jerusalem Post that Israel plans to keep “effective control” of southern Lebanon even for an indefinite period after the current war ends, presuming that Hezbollah will not yet have disarmed.

IDF kills over 40 Hezbollah terrorists in last 24 hours

Later on Thursday, the IDF said that it had killed over 40 Hezbollah terrorists and struck dozens of terror infrastructure sites through air, naval, and ground operations in Lebanon.

"In the past 24 hours, the Israeli Air Force struck dozens of headquarters, weapons storage facilities, launch sites, and anti-tank missile positions. The Israeli Navy also conducted a precise strike targeting a Hezbollah weapons storage facility in southern Lebanon," the military said.

Additionally, ground operations included an offensive from the 91st Division, which killed a Hezbollah terrorist cell in southern Lebanon, soldiers from the 36th Division engaging and killing three Hezbollah terrorists on motorcycles, the 146th Division dismantling over 180 terror infrastructure sites, and the 162nd Division locating numerous weapons.

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After warning civilians of strikes, IDF conducts hits Hezbollah, Hamas targets in Lebanon

In the ongoing saga of the Middle East, where ceasefires are treated as mere pauses for rearmament by those who have never truly accepted peace, the Israel Defense Forces have once again demonstrated a restraint and precision that stands in stark contrast to the cynicism of their adversaries.

Having issued clear warnings to civilians, the IDF proceeded with strikes on Hezbollah and Hamas targets across Lebanon. Earlier, it had confirmed the elimination of two Hezbollah operatives in al-Jumayjimah in southern Lebanon on Sunday—individuals actively engaged in rebuilding the terror group's infrastructure, in what the military rightly described as a "blatant violation of the ceasefire understandings between Israel and Lebanon."

On Monday, following advance notice of imminent action against Hezbollah sites, the IDF extended its operations to include both Hezbollah and Hamas facilities, some located north of the Litani River. Among the targets were subterranean structures used by Hezbollah. The warnings, delivered by the IDF's Arabic-language spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee via maps highlighting affected zones in red, were unequivocal:

"We urge the residents of the buildings marked in red in the attached maps and the buildings adjacent to them: You are located near buildings used by Hezbollah, and for your safety, you are required to evacuate them immediately and stay away from them by a distance of at least 300 meters."

"Remaining in the area of the marked buildings puts you in danger."

This is the sort of meticulous effort to spare non-combatants that one rarely sees from those who embed their arsenals in civilian areas, deliberately courting tragedy for propaganda purposes.Similar operations in recent days have seen the IDF neutralise a Hezbollah terrorist in al-Khiyam and destroy sites including a Radwan Force training facility and weapons depots.

In Gaza, the IDF struck a Hamas operative planning an imminent attack on troops, employing precise munitions and surveillance to minimize civilian harm, in line with the ceasefire. Later, another terrorist who crossed the Yellow Line, posing an immediate threat, was eliminated by airstrike.

These actions followed a meeting in Jerusalem where Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar met the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert. Sa'ar was forthright:"I reiterated the importance of Hezbollah’s disarmament for both Israel’s security and Lebanon’s future."

"Efforts have been made in this regard by the Lebanese government and the Lebanese Armed Forces, but they are far from sufficient, among other things, in light of Hezbollah’s efforts to rearm and rebuild, with Iranian support."

Even Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has urged the terror group to relinquish its arms, insisting: "The weapons should be at the disposal of all Lebanese, under a decision by the Lebanese government."

"Contrary to rumors, no one intends to throw them into the sea or hand them over to Israel."Yet the reality on the ground suggests that Hezbollah, backed by Tehran, has little intention of complying.

Separately, on Sunday night the IDF intercepted a drone attempting to smuggle three M-16 rifles across the Egyptian border, a reminder that the threats to Israel's security come from multiple directions.

And in a more mundane note amid these tensions, a soldier was seriously injured in an operational accident at a northern base.

What we witness here is Israel acting with calibrated force to enforce a fragile truce that its enemies exploit at every turn. It is a pattern all too familiar: one side warns civilians and targets only military assets; the other hides behind them. Until the international community insists on genuine disarmament and accountability, this cycle will persist.

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IDF strikes Hezbollah sites after they fired rockets at Israel: Lebanon warns of escalation

Okay guys, here we go. The Middle East is serving up chaos again, and it’s got more plot twists than a soap opera. 

On Saturday, the IDF went full hammer-mode, smashing dozens of Hezbollah rocket launchers and a command center in southern Lebanon after Israel intercepted three or so rockets lobbed across the border. Apparently, some mystery terrorists were running the show, but nobody’s owning up to it—shocker.

Hezbollah, playing the innocent card, was like, “Nope, not us, we’re totally chill with the ceasefire.” 

Yeah, sure, and I’m the Queen of England. 

No one’s claimed the attack, so it’s a real “whodunit” over there. An Israeli official chimed in, basically saying, “We don’t even know who these clowns are yet.” Six rockets got fired, three made it into Israel, and bam—intercepted over Metulla. 

Nice try, whoever you incompetent actual Nazis are.

Later, the IDF was like, “Round two, baby,” hitting more so-called Hezbollah targets, many of which were made of wood to launch their anemic rockets.

Defense Minister Israel Katz wasn’t messing around either, warning, “You shoot at Galilee, we’re coming for you. ‘We will not tolerate attacks on Galilee communities from Lebanon. Our commitment to their security stands firm – that is exactly what will be.’” Oh, and he added this gem to let Iran know he's watching: “Metulla and Beirut will be treated the same.”

 Subtle, right? He’s holding Lebanon’s government accountable for every stray bullet, and told the IDF to handle it. Cue Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir doing a quick huddle to figure out how deep this mess goes.

The military doubled down, saying Lebanon’s breaking the deal and they’re not here for it—they’ll hit back hard. 

Meanwhile, Lebanese PM Nawaf Salam was sweating the big stuff, warning about a potential sequel to the southern showdown. “All security and military measures must be taken to show that Lebanon decides on matters of war and peace,” he said, probably hoping someone listens for once. The Lebanese Army found the launchers, took them apart, and told Al Jazeera, “No clue who did it, but we’re on the case.” Good luck with that, detectives.

Over in Israel, Ophir Falk, one of Netanyahu’s advisors, told Reuters, “We expect Lebanon to clean up its mess. ‘The IDF will do whatever it takes to enforce the ceasefire and to make sure that our civilians can get back home safely and securely.’” Meanwhile, Lebanon’s state news reported Israeli airstrikes and artillery tearing up the south—border towns, hilltops, you name it. Two dead, eight wounded, per their Health Ministry. Israel? Zero casualties. 

Down in Gaza, it’s the usual grim circus. Hamas says five Palestinians, including a child/shield, got killed in the north—Beit Lahiya and Gaza City. The IDF’s version? “Some terrorists in a car rolled up on our guys, so we took ‘em out.” 

Next an airstrike in Rafah smoked two more, according to Gazan medics. The IDF’s got no comment yet—typical of them not to show their hand.

Oh, and Zamir’s not done. He’s tapped a squad of retired big-shots, led by Maj.-Gen. Sami Turgeman, to dig into the October 7 disaster and figure out what the hell went wrong. This crew’s got more brass than a marching band—think Eli Sharvit, Amikam Norkin, and a dozen other colonels and generals with fancy resumes. They’re supposed to bring “diverse perspectives,” which is code for “hopefully they won’t all agree to sweep it under the rug.” Turgeman’s a Southern Command vet, so he knows the turf, but this could go anywhere—maybe he’ll axe some top dogs like Shlomi Binder, or maybe he’ll zoom out and point fingers beyond the IDF. No clue how long this’ll take, but they’re promising “initial conclusions” soon. Sure, we’ll believe it when we see it.

So yeah, rockets, denials, airstrikes, and investigations—another day in paradise. What’s next?

Can I get a hearty Am Yisrael Chai!

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