IDF Assassinates Two High-Level Hamas Operatives in Lebanon

The IDF announced Saturday afternoon that it had eliminated Muhammad Hussein Ali al-Mahmoud, who served as the operational arm of the Hamas terrorist organization in Lebanon, in an airstrike earlier in the day. This evil man was responsible for coordinating Hamas activities in Judea and Samaria and was also assuming greater responsibilities in building up Hamas capabilities in Lebanon.

In a related story, Said Alaa Naif Ali, from Hamas's military wing in Lebanon, was eliminated in a joint IDF/Shin Bet operation in the Lebanese city of Tripoli earlier Saturday morning.

The IDF also hit several Hezbollah targets throughout the day, including a command and control center set up inside a mosque adjacent to the Salah Ghandour Hospital in southern Lebanon.

"Since the beginning of the war, and even more so since the beginning of the limited ground activity in southern Lebanon, the IDF has been making great efforts to prevent harming uninvolved civilians and civilian infrastructure," the IDF stated.

Saturday also saw dozens of rocket launches into northern Israel from Lebenese territory, with most of them being intercepted or falling in open areas. However, some caused damage, but no injuries, in the towns of Karmiel and Deir al-Assad.

All of this is occurring against a backdrop of intensive sweeps by the IDF in southern Lebanon during which large numbers of Hezbollah fighters are being eliminated and enormous quantities of weapons and ammunition, including rockets and anti-tank missiles, are being captured while tunnels and bunkers are being demolished.

In a briefing to soldiers, the Commanding Officer of the Golani Brigade said, "You are carrying out significant and important offensive operations for the benefit of the residents of the north. This is why we are here. Continue to operate professionally and precisely – I am proud of you.”