Israeli northern commander claims to have 'eliminated' 500 Lebanese militants

The Chief of the Israel army's northern command, Ori Gordin, announced on Friday that the army has neutralized more than 500 militants in Lebanon over the past nine months. The majority of these militants are Hezbollah members, according to The Times of Israel.

"We have already eliminated over 500 terrorists in Lebanon, most of them from Hezbollah, and we have destroyed thousands of their infrastructures," Gordin stated to the troops of the Golani Brigade stationed in northern Israel.

He emphasized the support from the Israeli public, saying, "The residents and citizens are behind us; our focus and firepower are directed at the enemy. When the time comes to launch an attack, it will be decisive."

According to our count, based on the information Hezbollah has released, the group has announced the loss of 380 fighters since tensions escalated along the border between South Lebanon and northern Israel following the outbreak of the Gaza war on Oct. 8. The latest announcement, reporting the loss of one more fighter, was made on Friday afternoon. Our total includes Hezbollah militants who were killed in Syria during the same period. Additionally, our count shows that the Amal Movement has lost 10 members, while various Palestinian factions operating in this region have lost 32 members.

Earlier in the day, the Israeli army claimed on Thursday that it has "completed preparations for a large-scale ground maneuver in Lebanon," as troops and Hezbollah have been engaged in deadly battles on the southern Lebanese border the next day after the start of the Gaza war.

In early July, the Israeli army radio reported that the regional brigade "HaHarim" (mountains in Hebrew) had completed training exercises that included attacks on Lebanon, combat in complex conditions, and urban clashes.

This comes during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trip to Washington where U.S. President Joe Biden and Democratic presidential candidate Kamal Harris echoed calls for a cease-fire deal to de-escalate the ongoing war.

Last week, an Israeli delegation postponed its trip to Doha to resume cease-fire talks, which had already been halted for a month before the last round was held.

The U.N. Security Council is set to make a decision soon on the extension of the mandate for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which expires on Aug. 31.

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