Tel Aviv, May 3 (ANI) — The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said on Sunday it recovered dozens of weapons belonging to Hezbollah that it said were intended for terror attacks against IDF soldiers.
In a post on X, the IDF shared photos and listed the items found, including Kalashnikov rifles, machine guns, anti-tank missiles, magazines and other combat equipment. The post added that two armed terrorists were eliminated south of the Forward Defense Line after posing an immediate threat to IDF troops.
Earlier, the IDF said it had “eliminated” two armed Hezbollah operatives south of the Forward Defence Line who presented an imminent threat. Additional terrorists identified inside structures who “posed a threat” were also struck and killed in a subsequent attack.
Avichay Adraee, the IDF spokesperson to Arab media, posted a video on X saying forces continue operations south of the defence line to remove threats to Israel. In Arabic-language posts, he said the multi-dimensional unit continued activity aimed at eliminating threats to Israeli citizens, noting that in recent days forces detected and struck two militants in a drone strike after they posed a danger in the area, and that other militants were observed and targeted.
On Saturday evening, Adraee said the IDF carried out airstrikes over the weekend on numerous Hezbollah targets and eliminated operatives who worked near IDF forces in southern Lebanon. He said roughly 70 buildings used by Hezbollah for military purposes and about 50 pieces of Hezbollah-affiliated infrastructure across several areas were destroyed. Among the struck targets, he said, were a Hezbollah command headquarters, a weapons depot, military buildings and other infrastructure used to advance plots against IDF forces and Israeli civilians.
According to the Jerusalem Post, Hezbollah is a Shi’ite group based in Lebanon that has waged a guerrilla campaign against Israel since the 1980s and is designated a terrorist organisation by the United States, Israel, Canada, the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
These developments follow a hardening of positions by Hezbollah leadership. On April 27, Hezbollah deputy chief Naim Qassem reiterated the group’s refusal to engage in direct negotiations with Israel, insisting on continued resistance and saying direct talks were “out of the question.” He said Hezbollah would not surrender its weapons and that its defence and field forces were ready for confrontation. Qassem also criticized Lebanese authorities’ diplomatic approach, saying they had made an unnecessary concession and urging indirect negotiations instead.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on April 26 that the ceasefire arrangement in Lebanon was being undermined by Hezbollah and said Israel would respond with force to secure the northern border, stressing that the IDF remained active there.
This military activity and rhetoric follow a U.S. announcement on April 23 by President Donald Trump of a three-week extension to the ceasefire. The U.S. administration said it would work with Lebanon to strengthen its ability to protect itself from Hezbollah influence. (ANI)
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