In a video statement released by his office, Netanyahu said Israeli forces had “eliminated” the commander of Hezbollah’s Radwan force in the Lebanese capital the previous night, referring to the armed group’s elite military unit.“Anyone who threatens the State of Israel will die because of his actions,” Netanyahu said, reiterating Israel’s position that it would continue targeting militant leaders it considers security threats.

The strike in central Beirut marked another escalation despite an existing ceasefire arrangement between Israel and Lebanon, and came ahead of a new round of U.S.-mediated talks scheduled in Washington next week.Hezbollah has not immediately issued detailed public comment on Netanyahu’s statement.

Israel has continued airstrikes in Lebanon in recent weeks, saying it is targeting Hezbollah infrastructure and commanders linked to attacks against Israeli territory.The Radwan force is regarded as one of Hezbollah’s most prominent combat units and has been central to the group’s operations along the Israel-Lebanon frontier.

The Interior Ministry said the group had been planning operations aimed at undermining security and stability in Homs, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), as the government intensifies efforts to reassert control across the country following the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad’s government in 2024.

Security forces confiscated anti-tank missile launchers, sniper rifles, automatic weapons, RPG launchers and large quantities of ammunition during the operation, the ministry said.

It described the raid as part of broader efforts to track and dismantle sleeper cells and eliminate what it called the remaining sources of terrorism across Syrian territory.Authorities did not identify the group involved or specify whether it had links to Daesh or other militant organizations still active in parts of Syria.

Syria has faced recurring security threats since the collapse of the Assad regime, with attacks targeting both domestic security forces and foreign military personnel operating in the country.In December, an attack on a joint patrol near Palmyra in Homs province killed two U.S. soldiers and a civilian interpreter, while injuring three U.S. service members and two Syrian security personnel.

The incident underscored continuing instability in central Syria, where remnants of militant networks continue to operate despite years of military campaigns against insurgent groups.In November, Syria became the 90th member of the Global Coalition against Daesh, the international alliance formed in 2014 to combat the militant group after it seized large parts of Syria and northern Iraq.

Although Daesh no longer controls major territory, security officials and international observers continue to warn that the group retains the capacity to conduct insurgent attacks, particularly in remote desert areas and regions with weakened state control.

The latest operation in Homs reflects Damascus’ effort to project authority and reassure both domestic and international partners that it can contain militant threats as the country navigates a fragile post-Assad transition.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Atawi was involved in orchestrating attacks on Israeli forces from Lebanese territory, accusing him of “planning and advancing terrorist activities” targeting soldiers stationed along the northern border.

Atawi, a commander of the group’s armed wing known as the Fajr Forces, was reportedly killed while driving from his residence to his office in the Lebanese capital.

The Fajr Forces had been active during the conflict last year, firing rockets across southern Lebanon into northern Israel. That war, which lasted nearly a year, concluded with a fragile ceasefire agreement. During the fighting, multiple members of the Fajr Forces were killed in Israeli airstrikes.

Despite the ceasefire, Israeli operations have continued across Lebanese territory, primarily targeting Hezbollah militants and weapons depots. Tuesday’s strike marks one of the rare incidents involving Jama’a Islamiya since the truce.

Lebanese authorities, Hezbollah, and Jama’a Islamiya have condemned the ongoing Israeli strikes and the continued occupation of several hilltop positions in southern Lebanon by Israeli troops. They argue such actions violate Lebanon’s sovereignty and the terms of the ceasefire.

Israel maintains that its operations are defensive, aimed at neutralizing threats to its civilian population.

The targeted killing of Atawi is expected to raise tensions along the already volatile Israel-Lebanon border, as regional instability continues to challenge the year-old truce.