Commander of Hezbollah's Radwan Force Eliminated in Strike | WATCH

The IDF confirmed Thursday that it killed Ahmad Ghaleb Balout, commander of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force, in a targeted strike in Beirut’s Dahiyeh district.

The strike was carried out Wednesday night with the approval of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, according to a joint statement issued after the operation.

“Radwan terrorists, led by him, were responsible for fire at Israeli communities and attacks on IDF soldiers,” the statement said. “No terrorist has immunity. Israel’s long arm will reach every enemy and murderer.”

According to the IDF, Balout had held several senior roles in the Radwan Force over the years, including operations commander, before becoming head of the unit. In those roles, he was responsible for the unit’s combat readiness and for directing terrorist operations against Israel.

The IDF said that during the current war, and especially in recent months, Balout directed Radwan terrorists and oversaw dozens of attack plans against IDF forces operating in southern Lebanon. These included anti-tank missile fire and explosive devices targeting Israeli troops.

Balout was also involved in efforts to rebuild the Radwan Force after heavy losses inflicted by the IDF. The military said he worked to advance the unit’s long-standing “Conquer the Galilee” plan, which envisioned an invasion of northern Israel and attacks on Israeli communities.

The Radwan Force is Hezbollah’s elite commando unit and has long been considered one of the group’s main offensive threats to northern Israel. Israeli officials have repeatedly said the unit operates with funding, training and direction from Iran.

The Beirut strike followed weeks of relative quiet in the Dahiyeh area and came amid continued Israeli operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. The IDF said Wednesday that it struck more than 15 Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure sites in several areas of southern Lebanon, including weapons depots, weapons production sites and rocket launchers.

In recent days, IDF troops also arrested a Radwan terrorist who was allegedly planning an attack on Israeli soldiers. He surrendered to forces and was transferred for questioning by Unit 504. Separately, Golani Brigade troops killed eight Hezbollah terrorists last week, including a member of the Radwan sniper array, and located an underground shaft leading to a staging area containing anti-tank rockets, machine guns and other weapons.

The IDF said interrogations of captured Hezbollah terrorists have pointed to declining morale within the organization. One detainee said morale was “on the floor” and that fighters were being sent from their homes against their will.

The military said it would continue acting against threats to Israeli civilians and soldiers, as well as against attempts by the Radwan Force to rebuild its capabilities.