Israel launches blitz targeting Hezbollah’s ‘next leader’ in secret bunker – as IDF kills 15 terrorists in close combat

ISRAEL has launched another devastating blitz in a secret bunker in an attempt to wipe out Hezbollah’s new presumed boss.

In their biggest strikes yet on Hezbollah, the IDF pounded targets south of Beirut, where many of the terror group’s compounds are located.

EPA

Israel struck the southern suburb of Dahieh, where many Hezbollah compounds are believed to be hidden[/caption]

Dan Charity

One of the targets was Hashem Safieddine, Nasrallah’s close aide and possible successor[/caption]

Getty

Rescue teams after an airstrike in Beirut as smoke billows in the air[/caption]

Reuters

Israel launched a wave of strikes in southern Beirut into the early hours of Friday[/caption]

Twitter

And a senior Hamas leader was killed in an airstrike in Tulkarem[/caption]

One of the targets was Hashem Safieddine – a senior official regarded to be Nasrallah’s successor after the 64-year-old terror chief was assassinated in an airstrike last week.

Safieddine, who was Nasrallah’s cousin and closest aide was often regarded as the terror group’s second in command and was rumoured to be in line to become the group’s new secretary-general.

Three Israeli officials told Axios the IDF struck a Hezbollah bunker deep underground.

He was targeted after calling a meeting of senior commanders to an underground bunker in the Dahieh suburb.

A barrage of bunker-buster bombs like the ones which wiped out Nasrallah on Friday was launched from Israeli F15 jets.

It remains unclear whether Safieddine was killed at the strike.

Israel carried out a series of massive airstrikes in Beirut and another that cut off the main border crossing between Lebanon and Syria.

The IDF said on Thursday it had struck over 200 targets across Lebanon killing 15 Hezbollah members.

The military said among those killed was senior Hezbollah militant, Mohammed Anisi.

In a rare appearance, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Tehran would not “procrastinate or rush to carry out its duty” in confronting Israel.

“The brilliant action of our armed forces a couple of nights ago was completely legal and legitimate,” he said, referring to Iran’s missile attack on Israel.

The IDF has also killed a top Hamas commander in a deadly fighter jet airstrike in Tulkarem.

The military said the strike was carried out as senior Hamas commander Zahi Yaser Abd al-Razeq Oufi was planning a terrorist attack “in the immediate time frame.”

His death comes as another senior Hamas leader, who was Yahya Sinwar’s right-hand man was also killed in Gaza.

Rawhi Mushtaha, the chief of Hamas’s government in Gaza, was killed in a series of airstrikes in July, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) announced.

At least one strike hit outside the perimeter of the international airport and smoke was seen nearby after jets were heard overhead.

So far, ground clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants have been confined to a narrow strip along the border.

At least nine Israeli soldiers have been killed in battles as troops are advancing in southern Lebanon trying to wipe out Hezbollah fighters.

The new wave of strikes came after Israel issued another evacuation order for communities across southern Lebanon.

Thousands of civilians have already fled the country’s south as the showdown between Hezbollah and Israel intensifies.

But Israel expanded its no-go zone and told citizens to urgently leave 25 areas.

AFP

Smoke rises from a neighbourhood south of Beirut[/caption]

Israel launched fresh airstrikes near Beirut airport on Thursday night