Israel claims Hezbollah commander killed in strike that killed 11, hopes for serious talks

Israel announced it conducted a lethal airstrike in southern Lebanon, claiming to have killed a Hezbollah commander and asserting that the attack will push for more serious negotiations with Lebanon. The strike, however, resulted in the deaths of 11 people, including three children, according to Lebanese authorities.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's spokesperson, Doron Spielman, stated that the military targeted a headquarters of Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force, killing commander Ali Samir Al-Haj Hassan. Spielman told AFP that the airstrike "should push negotiations to restart, for them to be more serious, rather than the opposite." Israel asserted that the strike was a response to Hezbollah attacks on what it calls a "security zone" in southern Lebanon, which left three Israeli soldiers seriously wounded.

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The Israeli army's airstrike against Hezbollah should push negotiations to restart, for them to be more serious, rather than the opposite.

Lebanon reported that the Israeli airstrikes in its southern region resulted in 11 fatalities, including three children. This marks the most significant and deadly escalation of violence since a fragile agreement to de-escalate hostilities was reached between Israel and Hezbollah in June.

Spielman reiterated Israel's support for a U.S.-mediated agreement that would see Lebanese security forces take control of the situation and remove Hezbollah's presence. "We believe in this agreement. We very much hope that the Lebanese armed forces will step up and work with us to exclude Hezbollah," he said.

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We believe in this agreement. We very much hope that the Lebanese armed forces will step up and work with us to exclude Hezbollah.