IDF 'Eliminates' Senior Hamas and Hezbollah Commanders in Lebanon
The IDF announced the elimination of Hamas commander Mehran Ba‘jur in Tripoli and Hezbollah operative Hussein Mazhar in southern Lebanon, both accused of directing rocket attacks on Israel. The strikes mark a further escalation in Israel’s campaign in Lebanon.
By Kamaran Aziz
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) — The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Tuesday that it had eliminated two high-ranking militants affiliated with Hamas and Hezbollah in separate operations conducted in Lebanon.
According to a post on X by the official IDF account, "Mehran Mustafa Ba‘jur, a key Hamas commander, was eliminated by the IDF in the area of Tripoli, Lebanon." The statement emphasized that Ba‘jur "advanced and directed numerous terrorist attacks against Israelis and the IDF, spent years establishing Hamas’ military capabilities in Lebanon, was responsible for Hamas’ force-buildup efforts, and purchased weapons through his connections with other terrorist organizations in the area."
🔴ELIMINATED: Mehran Mustafa Ba‘jur, a key Hamas commander, was eliminated by the IDF in the area of Tripoli, Lebanon.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) July 8, 2025
Ba‘jur advanced and directed numerous terrorist attacks against Israelis and the IDF, spent years establishing Hamas’ military capabilities in Lebanon, was… pic.twitter.com/VWXQtITHJh
The IDF added that during the recent conflict, Ba‘jur was "responsible for rocket fire attacks toward the towns of Nahariya, Kiryat Shmona, and additional cities across Israel." His elimination, it concluded, "significantly degrades Hamas’ terror activity in Lebanon."
In a separate incident, IDF spokesperson Avichay Adraee announced on X that the military had also targeted the Bablieh area in southern Lebanon. "Yesterday, the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) attacked the Bablieh area in southern Lebanon and eliminated the terrorist named Hussein Ali Mazhar, who was responsible for the fire management of the Zahrani sector of Hezbollah's Badr unit," Adraee wrote.
#عاجل 🔸هاجم جيش الدفاع يوم أمس في منطقة بابلية في جنوب لبنان وقضى على الارهابي المدعو حسين علي مزهر مسؤول ادارة النيران في قطاع الزهراني التابع لوحدة بدر في حزب الله.
— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) July 9, 2025
🔸في اطار مهام منصبه دفع الإرهابي بمخططات إطلاق قذائف صاروخية عديدة نحو دولة إسرائيل وقوات جيش الدفاع. كما… pic.twitter.com/FTEKWaZqPp
The statement further detailed that Mazhar "advanced numerous plans for rocket launches toward the State of Israel and IDF forces" and was "recently engaged in attempts to rebuild Hezbollah's artillery units in southern Lebanon."
Adraee stressed that "the activities of Hussein Ali Mazhar constituted a flagrant violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon," adding, "The IDF will continue to operate to remove any threat to the State of Israel."
These latest operations signal an escalation in Israel's campaign to neutralize threats posed by armed groups operating from Lebanese territory.
