Jerusalem, 12 March, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The Israel Defense Forces said Thursday it had killed two senior Hezbollah operatives in separate strikes in Lebanon this week, including a key figure involved in missile coordination between the Iranian regime and the Iran-backed Lebanese group. The announcement followed a coordinated barrage of rockets and drones overnight by Iran and Hezbollah that **sent** millions of Israelis to shelters.
According to the IDF, Abu Dharr Mohammadi, described as the operations commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ missile unit operating within Hezbollah, was killed in a strike in Beirut on Tuesday. He was described as “a central figure in the military coordination between Hezbollah and the Iranian terror regime,” serving as a link between the Lebanese organization and senior Iranian officials.
“He was a key figure in Hezbollah’s military force build-up as it related to missiles,” the military said, adding that Mohammadi worked to rehabilitate the group’s missile program after Israeli strikes in September 2024.
The IDF said he also played a leading role in planning Hezbollah’s missile operations and “led the planning and operations processes of Hezbollah’s missile branch,” including support for missile launches toward Israel.
In a separate strike on Saturday in the Harouf area of southern Lebanon, the IDF said it killed Abu Ali Riyan, commander of a local unit in Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force. The IDF said he was responsible for coordinating operational activity, recruiting fighters, and overseeing the unit’s weapons supply chain.
“The ‘Radwan Force’ unit, which is responsible for Hezbollah’s raids and serves as a central offensive and propaganda tool for the organization, has been a core target of the IDF’s efforts to further degrade the Hezbollah terrorist organization,” the IDF said.
The IDF added that its operations against the unit have killed more than 100 fighters and dismantled over 60 Radwan command-and-control centers.
A Night Under Fire
Overnight, Hezbollah fired approximately 200 rockets from multiple sites in Lebanon over several hours, while Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) simultaneously launched ballistic missiles targeting northern and central Israel.
“This was a joint and integrated operation,” the IRGC said, confirming coordination with Hezbollah.
Residents in the Galilee, Haifa, and communities up to 50 kilometers from the Lebanese border were forced to take cover, while sirens sounded even in Tel Aviv and surrounding towns. Despite the intensity, casualties were limited. Two people — a 35-year-old woman and a man in his 50s — were lightly injured by flying debris, while four others were treated for anxiety. A rocket also struck a home in Moshav Haniel in central Israel, causing property damage but no injuries.
The IDF responded with heavy airstrikes across southern Beirut and southern Lebanon. “We targeted rocket launchers, command posts, and operatives preparing further attacks,” it said. Israeli officials warned that civilian infrastructure could also be targeted if Lebanon fails to restrain the Iran-backed group. Israeli authorities are reportedly considering expanding the buffer zone along the Lebanese border.
Following Hamas’ attack on **October 7, 2023**, Hezbollah began daily rocket fire at northern Israeli communities, prompting thousands of residents to flee. Since November 2024, Israel has carried out numerous airstrikes against Hezbollah activities in violation of the ceasefire. The ceasefire collapsed on March 2 when Hezbollah fired rockets at northern Israel following the assassination of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khameini.
The IDF reported killing around 380 Hezbollah operatives and striking roughly 950 to 1,000 Targets in 2025. These included launchers, weapons depots, military structures, and underground shafts. The IDF also accused Hezbollah of violating the ceasefire about 1,920 times during the year.
The ceasefire requires Hezbollah to withdraw its armed forces from southern Lebanon and prohibits it from operating south of the Litani River.