IDF attacks Hezbollah command center in Lebanon

News

Israel war 2023

By Alyssa Guzman

Israel attacked a Hezbollah command center in Lebanon on Friday as an Israeli Defense Forces official stressed the importance of investigating the military’s Oct. 7 “failures” to help strengthen future war efforts.

The IDF’s shelling of the command center in the Lebanese village of Blida came in response to earlier rocket fire from Lebanon targeting the Israeli city of Kiryat Shmona, according to the Times of Israel.

Israel’s military also used tanks to strike other areas along Lebanon’s southern border, reportedly to thwart planned attacks by Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed terror group, the Times reported.

Friday’s attacks came after IDF Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said probing the military’s mistakes on Oct. 7 — when Hamas invaded Israel — will benefit Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

“Our goal is to always improve, to draw conclusions from the fighting, to deepen the achievement and minimize casualties to our forces,” Hagari said at a press conference, according to The Times of Israel.

“Only a thorough investigation of the truth will allow us to learn from the failures and prepare for the security challenges in the future.”

“Only a thorough investigation of the truth will allow us to learn from the failures and prepare for the security challenges in the future — 2024 will be a year of fighting, and there are lessons to be learned that will help us fight better, in all the arenas,” said Hagari.

Investigations into the IDF’s handling of the Oct. 7 invasion have not yet begun, but the IDF is in the process of planning such probes and deciding who will lead them, according to Hagari.

Meanwhile, an Israeli security cabinet meeting on Thursday night got heated as ministers and IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi butted heads over his plans for a military investigation into its Oct. 7 mishaps, according to the Times.

As the war entered its 91st day, France and Jordan have teamed up to drop seven tons of aid to Gazans, the European president announced on X.

“The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip remains critical,” Emmanuel Macron said. “In a difficult context, France and Jordan provided aid by air to the population and to those assisting them.”

Last month, Macron criticized Israel’s approach in Gaza, saying the Jewish nation did not have to “flatten Gaza” in order to fight terrorism.

“We cannot let the idea take root that an efficient fight against terrorism implies to flatten Gaza or attack civilian populations indiscriminately,” he told a French outlet.

He called for Israel’s offensive to be “stopped” because “it is not appropriate, because all lives are worth the same and we defend them.”

Other world leaders have raised concerns over the death toll in Gaza – which has reportedly reached more than 22,000 since Oct. 7 – and the Israeli army has said it would try to limit civilian deaths.

In addition, the IDF announced that there are still 136 hostages being held by Hamas after three missing Israelis have now reached captive status, it announced on X.

Hamas has said it would not consider releasing the hostages until Israel agrees to a permanent cease-fire, and has threatened to kill the remaining captives if aid is not brought into Gaza or prisoner exchanges are not met.

Israel, however, said it will not stop fighting until the terrorist organization is annihilated.