Tensions between Israel and Lebanon are increasing. In today’s October 19, 2023 news on the war against Hamas, the Israel Defense Forces announced that in the last few hours they had attacked Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon in response to anti-tank attacks on Israeli territory. Among the targets attacked was an observation point in southwest Lebanon, from which anti-tank fire was directed against the Israeli border town of Rosh Hanikra yesterday. “Haaretz” reports.
Commander of the military wing of the Popular Resistance Committees in Gaza killed
Israeli forces announced last night that they had killed the leader of the military wing of the Popular Resistance Committees terror group in Gaza, Rafat Abu Hilal. According to reports from the Israeli security forces, based on information from the Shin Bet, there was an airstrike on Rafah in which Abu Hilal was killed.
The defense forces also said they had targeted several members of the so-called Hamas Nukhba units that led the Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israeli territory, killing at least 10 of them.
The IDF said it had destroyed hundreds of Hamas sites in the past 24 hours, including anti-tank missile launch sites, tunnel access shafts, intelligence infrastructure and various command centers. The Times of Israel wrote about it.
From Biden to Netanyahu and aid for Gaza
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden has returned to Washington. Yesterday, during the short trip to Tel Aviv and meeting with Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, the US leader expressed solidarity with Israel, to which he offered military assistance but must avoid a widespread war against Hezbollah, and secured the dispatch of humanitarian aid to Gaza, with Egypt agreeing to the opening of the Rafah border crossing. Biden has announced an address to the nation this evening on the situation in Ukraine and the Middle East.