Israel takes down Hezbollah's deputy commander of elite forces, considering ceasefire?

The Israeli military says it has killed the deputy leader of Hezbollah's Radwan force, amid reports of Israel discussing ceasefire terms in southern Lebanon.

Israel airstrikes Nabatieh area in Lebanon on October 28

The Times of Israel on October 30 quoted a statement from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) saying that the force had killed the deputy commander of Hezbollah's elite force in an airstrike in Lebanon.

Accordingly, Mr. Mustafa Ahmad Shahadi, deputy leader of Hezbollah's Radwan force, was killed by an Israeli fighter jet airstrike in the Nabatieh area of ​​Lebanon.

The IDF said Mr. Shahadi "conducted numerous terrorist attacks against the 'State of Israel'" and that his elimination was "part of an effort to weaken Hezbollah's Radwan Force's ability to direct and carry out terrorist operations against the IDF and communities on the northern border, especially the 'Conquest of Galilee' plan."

Israel accused the Radwan forces of planning to invade northern Israel, in a Hezbollah plot that ultimately failed to materialize.

Shahadi previously commanded the Radwan operation in the fighting in Syria from 2012 to 2017, according to the IDF.

Hezbollah forces did not immediately comment on the above information.

In another development, AFP on October 30 quoted Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen as saying that the country's security cabinet is discussing ceasefire terms with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, where Israeli soldiers are attacking on the ground.

"There are discussions, I think it will take time," he told Israeli radio.

According to Channel 12 television, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held talks with ministers on the evening of October 29 about Israel's demands in exchange for a 60-day ceasefire.

These include a Hezbollah withdrawal north of the Litani River, about 30 kilometers from the Israeli border, the deployment of Lebanese troops along the border, an international intervention mechanism to enforce the ceasefire, and guarantees that Israel will maintain freedom of action in the event of a threat.

“Thanks to all the military operations in the past months and especially the past weeks, Israel can be in a strong position after the entire Hezbollah leadership was eliminated and more than 2,000 Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure sites were attacked,” said Cohen, Israel’s former intelligence minister.

According to Israeli media, US President Joe Biden's Middle East adviser, Brett McGurk, and Special Envoy Amos Hochstein will travel to the region to meet with Netanyahu and other Israeli officials to discuss ceasefire conditions with Hezbollah.

Regarding the situation in Gaza, a Hamas official said on October 30 that the force has not received any proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza but will discuss any idea including the withdrawal of Israeli troops.

"We told the mediators that Hamas is ready if (Israel) agrees to the proposal of a ceasefire, a complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, the return of displaced people to their homes in Gaza including the north, sufficient aid to our people and a serious prisoner exchange deal," the official said.

In his first speech after becoming the new leader of Hezbollah, Naim Qassem declared that the force will continue its path of fighting Israel.

"The final victory will be ours," Al Jazeera quoted him as saying on October 30 in a pre-recorded video , with the Lebanese flag, Hezbollah flag and image of the late leader Hassan Nasrallah in the background.

Mr. Qassem declared that under his leadership, Hezbollah would continue Mr. Nasrallah's work and follow the same political path as before.

"Helping Gaza is our duty and we will defend against the Israeli threat to the entire region," he stressed.

According to AFP, in his speech, Mr. Qassem also said that Hezbollah fought Israel to protect Lebanese territory and was not influenced by outside forces. He said that Hezbollah "does not fight on behalf of anyone", adding that Iran supports and does not want anything from this force.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/israel-ha-pho-chi-huy-luc-luong-tinh-nhue-cua-hezbollah-can-nhac-lenh-ngung-ban-18524103019593656.htm