War day 93: Senior Hezbollah Commander Assassinated in Israeli Drone Attack - Tensions Rises

In a significant development, Wissam Tawil, a senior Hezbollah official recently appointed as the commander of the Radwan Force, the elite unit of the Lebanese terrorist organization, was killed on Monday. The attack, reportedly attributed to Israel, targeted Tawil's car in the town of Hirbat Salem in southern Lebanon.

Tawil, also known as "Hajj Jawad," was considered a key figure in directing Hezbollah's operations in southern Lebanon. He had a notorious history, being responsible for the ambush in 2000 that led to the killing and kidnapping of Israeli combat engineering soldiers and the 2006 attack that resulted in the deaths of soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, triggering the Second Lebanon War.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has been put on alert, although Israel has not officially claimed responsibility for the assassination. Hezbollah has labeled Tawil a "martyr on the way to Jerusalem" and is expected to retaliate, escalating tensions in the region.

The Qatari newspaper "Al-Arabi Al-Jadid" reported that Tawil was among the close associates of Qassem Soleimani, the late commander of the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. Soleimani was killed in a U.S. attack four years ago.

The assassination follows the recent killing of senior Hamas official Saleh al-Riots in Beirut, prompting Hezbollah to launch a barrage into the Galilee as an "initial response."

Tensions on the northern front are escalating at a critical time, with Israel signaling impatience over Hezbollah's border attacks. The United States, along with other nations, is working to prevent a full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah.

As exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah continue, the IDF announced several attacks on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Kiryat Shmona, a city that was hit by an anti-tank missile during his visit, causing damage to infrastructure but no injuries.

Lt. Col. Daniel Hagari stated that the IDF has entered a new, less intense phase in the fighting, focusing on dismantling threats in the Gaza Strip. He emphasized that Israel will not tolerate threats near its northern border.

In another development, an Israeli security delegation is reportedly set to arrive in Cairo for negotiations on the release of abductees, according to the Qatari newspaper "Al-Arabi Al-Jadid."

U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken landed in Israel for talks on the Gaza Strip war, urging Israel to move from the second to the third phase with fewer trees, aiming to facilitate de-escalation and support President Biden's special envoy, Amos Hochstein.

Blinken's visit aligns with the broader international efforts to achieve a safer, more stable, and peaceful future for the region. The situation remains tense, and the coming hours and days are expected to determine the potential for a dangerous escalation in southern Lebanon.