Israel strikes 40 Hezbollah sites, minister says "half of" Hezbollah's commanders in S. Lebanon killed

JERUSALEM -- Israel's military announced that its warplanes and artillery struck about 40 sites in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, claiming they had been used by Hezbollah.

An Israeli military spokesperson said in a statement that the strikes were carried out in the area of Ayta ash Shab in southern Lebanon against Hezbollah targets including storage facilities, weaponry, and infrastructures.

According to the spokesperson, Hezbollah fighters have used the area for military purposes.

Also on Wednesday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant toured the Israel-Lebanon border, where Israel and Hezbollah have been trading fire since Oct. 8, 2023, and held a situation assessment meeting with commanders.

According to Gallant, since the beginning of the border conflict, Israel has killed "about half of" Hezbollah's commanders in southern Lebanon, putting the number at 40.

"Our goal has remained the same -- to ensure that a different security situation prevails here in northern Israel and that the residents of the north can return to their homes in peace and safety," he said.

Tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border escalated on Oct 8, 2023, following a barrage of rockets launched by Hezbollah toward Israel in solidarity with Hamas' attack on Israel the day before. Israel then retaliated by firing heavy artillery toward southeastern Lebanon.