UPDATE - Israel heightens air-defense alert after killing top Hezbollah commander

UPDATES WITH DETAILS

By Abdel Ra'ouf Arnaout and Rania Abu Shamala

JERUSALEM/ISTANBUL (AA) – Israel raised on Monday the alert level of its air-defense system in the north, a day after killing Hezbollah’s top commander, Haitham Tabtabai, in Beirut.

“The army has decided to raise the alert level of the air-defense system in the north,” Israel’s Army Radio said.

The public broadcaster KAN reported that security assessments “do not expect an exchange of strikes with Hezbollah following the elimination of its chief of staff in Beirut’s southern suburbs.”

However, it added: “Israel is nevertheless preparing for various possible reactions, such as attacks on Israeli targets abroad or strikes from other fronts like Yemen,” in reference to the Houthis.

“Hezbollah’s decision to refrain from responding may be interpreted by Israel as a green light to continue its assassinations, including expanding operations inside Beirut,” it added.

“In this situation, Hezbollah may opt to respond by targeting Israeli interests abroad,” the broadcaster said.

Meanwhile, the Israeli army launched a two-day military exercise to test its readiness for a range of scenarios.

According to a military statement, the drill aims “to examine and improve readiness for various scenarios through command post drills.”

The military movement will be observed in Syria’s occupied Golan Heights and the Jordan Valley in the occupied West Bank, it added.

Five people were killed and 25 others injured in the Israeli strike that targeted Beirut’s southern suburb on Sunday. Hezbollah confirmed that Tabatabai was killed in the attack.

Tensions in southern Lebanon have been mounting for weeks, with the Israeli military intensifying near-daily air raids inside Lebanese territory, claiming to target Hezbollah members and infrastructure.

According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, at least 331 people have been killed and 945 injured by Israeli fire since a ceasefire deal took effect on Nov. 27, 2024. The UN peacekeeping mission (UNIFIL) also reported more than 10,000 Israeli air and ground violations.

Under the ceasefire, the Israeli army was supposed to withdraw from southern Lebanon this January, but instead only partially pulled out and continues to maintain a military presence at five border outposts.