DAILY-ENGLISH-HE SOURCES

[61771] Israel eliminates Hamas commander in Gaza and intensifies strikes in Lebanon

The IDF eliminated senior Hamas official Izz al-Din al-Haddad in Gaza, alongside a significant escalation in fighting in southern Lebanon against the backdrop of the ceasefire extension.

Elimination of a senior Hamas official in the Gaza Strip

On Friday, May 16, 2026, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that the IDF had eliminated Izz al-Din al-Haddad, commander of Hamas's military wing in the Gaza Strip. According to Amir Tsarfati, who is associated with pro-Israel positions, al-Haddad was one of the key planners of the October 7 massacre and served as the "last of the senior Hamas officials remaining in the Strip" among the attack's planners. WarFront Witness, which presents a critical stance toward the Israeli government, noted that the operation involved striking a building in the Rimal neighborhood and that al-Haddad had held Israeli hostages in harsh conditions as a "human shield."

Escalation on the northern border and the ceasefire

In the northern arena, the situation remains tense despite the U.S. announcement of a 45-day ceasefire extension. Despite the agreement, France 24 English and other media outlets reported on continued exchanges of fire. The IDF launched a series of extensive strikes against Hezbollah infrastructure, after the military claimed the organization had violated the ceasefire agreement. Conversely, sources identified with the Axis of Resistance such as Geopolitics Prime claimed that Hezbollah carried out 33 attacks against IDF forces in southern Lebanon on Friday alone, including the use of drone swarms.

Casualties and technological development

Reports from Rerum Novarum and other sources indicate damage to a medical center in Nabatieh in southern Lebanon, where six people were killed, including three paramedics. WarFront Witness emphasized that Israel is establishing a dedicated production facility for FPV suicide drones in response to the Hezbollah drone threat, following internal criticism regarding the pace of Israel's operational adaptation to this threat. The Israeli strikes were accompanied by detailed evacuation warnings for residents of villages in southern Lebanon in the Sidon and Nabatieh areas, as part of the preparations for action against Hezbollah targets.