🏔️ IDF Reaffirms Control of Beaufort Ridge: IDF Chief of the General Staff LTG Eyal Zamir visited the Beaufort Ridge in southern Lebanon, where he reviewed operations with senior commanders, toured the area, and inspected Hezbollah's underground tunnel network.
Zamir described the ridge as strategically dominant terrain that Hezbollah, with Iranian funding and direction, spent decades fortifying with tunnels, command centers, firing positions, and other military infrastructure. He said the IDF now maintains operational control above ground and throughout the tunnel system.
🛡️ Ceasefire Responsibilities and Continued Enforcement: Zamir stated that the Lebanese Armed Forces remain obligated under the ceasefire agreement to remove Hezbollah terrorists and infrastructure from the area. He added that the IDF will continue acting against threats from Lebanese territory and is prepared to transition rapidly to offensive operations if the ceasefire is violated.
Addressing troops from the 36th Division, he credited their advance across the Litani River and Northern Command's operations with significantly weakening Hezbollah, describing the organization as exhausted, defeated in its engagements with the IDF, and increasingly reliant on Iranian support.
💥 Precision Strike Against Hezbollah Cell: Earlier in the day, IDF Commando Brigade forces identified a Hezbollah terrorist cell traveling on motorcycles near the security zone in the Al Aqidah area of southern Lebanon. After determining the activity posed a threat to Israeli forces, the IDF carried out a precise strike.
The military reiterated that it will continue removing threats against its forces and Israeli civilians. Lebanese media reported an airstrike between Kfar Tebnit and Nabatieh al-Fawqa near the Ali Taher Ridge.
🔸 Government Reviews Southern Lebanon Security Arrangements: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened ministers and senior defense officials to review the pilot program and plans for transferring responsibility for parts of southern Lebanon's security zone to the Lebanese Armed Forces as part of efforts to disarm Hezbollah.
Netanyahu also stated that Christian villages in southern Lebanon have requested annexation by Israel because, in his words, Israel protects them from Hezbollah.
🎯 Two Hamas Commanders Eliminated in Gaza: The IDF announced that two Hamas military commanders were eliminated in separate precision strikes last week in Gaza: Muhammad Najib Ashour, a Nukhba platoon commander, and Tamer Saeed Abu Nakhal, a Hamas cell commander.
According to the military, both were involved in advancing attacks against IDF forces and were targeted after posing operational threats.
🏭 Israel Advances Defense Industry Consolidation: The government approved the merger of Elta Systems into Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), transferring all of Elta's operations into IAI and ending Elta's status as a separate legal entity.
Officials view the move as preparation for a future IAI public offering, with the goal of increasing the company's valuation through a more integrated defense enterprise. The decision follows meetings in New York involving Israeli defense officials, regulators, and underwriters regarding a potential Nasdaq listing.
📡 Strategic Importance of the Elta Merger: Elta develops many of the radar, sensor, communications, electronic warfare, intelligence, surveillance, homeland security, fire-control, and cyber defense systems used by the IDF and allied militaries.
Government assessments indicate the merger is intended to strengthen long-term technological development, improve integration across Israel's defense industry, enhance competitiveness in global defense markets, expand export opportunities, and support future investment, while not changing the IDF's current operational capabilities.
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