TEL AVIV, — April 13, 2026 : The Israeli military has confirmed that more than 250 Hezbollah members and commanders were killed during a coordinated wave of airstrikes conducted on April 8, marking the largest single strike under the ongoing Operation Roaring Lion.
According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the strikes were carried out across multiple locations, including Beirut, the Bekaa Valley, and southern Lebanon. The operation targeted Hezbollah headquarters, intelligence and command centers, and associated military infrastructure, and was executed within a short timeframe as part of a synchronized assault.
Military officials identified several senior Hezbollah figures among those killed. These include Hassan Mustafa Nasser, head of the group’s logistics support headquarters; Ali Qassem, Abu Ali Abbas, and Ali Hijazi, all described as senior intelligence commanders; and Abu Muhammad Habib, deputy commander of Hezbollah’s missile unit.
Casualty figures released by Lebanon’s health ministry reported a total of 357 fatalities resulting from the April 8 strike wave. The ministry’s data does not distinguish between civilian and combatant deaths. Based on Israeli assessments, at least 70 percent of those killed were Hezbollah members.
The IDF stated that, with the latest figures, the total number of Hezbollah fighters killed since the start of the current campaign has now exceeded 1,500.
Operation Roaring Lion began on February 28, 2026, initially as a joint United States-Israel military initiative targeting Iranian military infrastructure. The scope of the operation later expanded into Lebanon following Hezbollah’s entry into the conflict.
Israeli authorities have not released additional details regarding further casualties or the operational impact of the April 8 strikes beyond the confirmed figures. The military stated that assessments are ongoing to verify additional data and evaluate the impact on Hezbollah’s operational capabilities.
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