Northern Israel braces for retaliation after Beirut strike kills Hezbollah commander

The IDF Northern Command ordered the cancellation of special exemptions that had allowed large open-air events.

By Pesach Benson, TPS

Following a Beirut airstrike that killed Hezbollah’s Radwan Force commander, Israeli authorities in northern communities canceled planned events on Thursday amid fears of retaliation.

Local officials acted after the Israel Defense Forces Home Front Command warned that gatherings previously exempt from defensive restrictions in the northern border area could become vulnerable.

“Accordingly, events that had previously been exempted from the Home Front Command’s defensive guidelines in the northern border area have been canceled due to the possibility of enemy fire by the Hezbollah terrorist organization toward the area,” the Home Front Command said.

The Israel Defense Forces said its Home Front Command guidelines remain unchanged, but the Northern Command ordered the cancellation of special exemptions that had allowed large open-air events.

Local authorities said they were updating plans in line with ongoing security assessments.

Among the cancellations were post-Lag BaOmer bonfires in Kfar Vradim, a farmers’ market in Agmon Hula, and municipal events in Nahariya.

Merom Galil Regional Council head Amit Sofer urged residents to avoid nonessential mass gatherings and comply with Home Front Command instructions.

The heightened alert follows an overnight airstrike in Beirut that killed Radwan Force commander Ahmad Ghaleb Balout.

According to the IDF, Balout previously served as the unit’s chief of operations and oversaw dozens of attacks against Israeli troops in southern Lebanon, including anti-tank missile fire and explosives.

The IDF also said he was involved in efforts to rebuild Radwan capabilities and advance the group’s “Conquer the Galilee” invasion plan.

“He thought he could continue to direct attacks against our forces and our communities from his secret terrorist headquarters in Beirut,” said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“He likely read in the press that he had immunity in Beirut. Well, he read it and it is no longer the case.”

Also killed in the strike was an intelligence officer in the Radwan Force, the IDF said.

The strike, in the Dahiyeh district, a Hezbollah stronghold, was the first in Beirut since April 8.