Israel marks Hezbollah chief Kassem as next target for elimination in Lebanon

Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz has now marked Hezbollah chief Naim Kassem as the next target for elimination after killing Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran's militant group fired at Israel on Sunday in retaliation ‌for Khamenei's death.

Hezbollah chief Naim Kassem was now ⁠a "target for ‌elimination", Israeli defence minister said, as reported by Reuters. "Hezbollah is entering a fight it cannot win," the Israel Defence Forces said in a statement released on X.

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As Israel continued to attack Iran, Hezbollah said it fired missiles from Lebanon into Israel early on Monday in response to the killing of Khamenei and “repeated Israeli aggressions.” However, there were no reports of casualties, injuries or damage, and Israel said that it had intercepted one projectile while several fell in open areas.

"Our aircraft are striking targets in Iran, including Tehran, such as underground bunkers of the terror regime. We are operating to eliminate any threats to our civilians, and will continue doing so," Israel's Defence Ministry said.



Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon targeted senior Hezbollah commanders in the Beirut area, as well as dozens of headquarters, including facilities linked to both Hezbollah and the Iranian regime in Dahiyeh, Beirut. The Israeli Navy also struck a Hezbollah site in Tyre used to store combat equipment.

"The attacked headquarters were used by the Iranian terrorist regime to deepen ties with the Hezbollah terrorist organization in Lebanon, thereby enabling terrorist organizations to operate numerous terrorist cells against the citizens of the State of Israel over the years, and particularly during Operation 'Northern Arrows,'" the IDF said.

The military added: "The Hezbollah terrorist organization chose to join the Iranian terrorist regime and from now on will bear the consequences of the attack against the State of Israel. The IDF will act forcefully against the decision of the Hezbollah terrorist organization to join the campaign and act on behalf of Iran, and will not allow harm to the citizens of the State of Israel, and particularly to the residents of the North. The IDF is prepared for a multi-arena scenario and to confront any threat to the State of Israel."

Casualties mount

Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon have killed at least 31 people and wounded 149 others, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, reported by AP. The Lebanese government held an emergency meeting after Hezbollah’s attacks prompted the retaliatory strikes.

Iran has continued firing missiles at Israel and other Arab states in response to the joint U.S.-Israeli operation that killed Khamenei and several top Iranian officials. Hezbollah’s participation in the conflict represents a new front in the Iran Israel War, escalating the risk of wider regional instability.

"IDF is currently attacking in parallel in Lebanon and Iran," the military said in a statement, highlighting coordinated operations across multiple fronts in response to threats from Iranian-backed forces and Hezbollah.

Ongoing tensions in the Iran Israel War

The conflict remains fluid, with both Israel and Iranian-backed forces engaged in multi-arena operations. The IDF emphasized that it will continue to act decisively to protect Israeli civilians, especially in northern Israel, while targeting senior commanders and strategic facilities connected to Hezbollah and Iran.

"The IDF is prepared for a multi-arena scenario and to confront any threat to the State of Israel," the statement concluded.


(With inputs from AP)