Jerusalem: Israel has announced that it has killed a senior Hezbollah UAV commander Khader Al-Abed Bahja. This confirmation comes as the Israel Defense Forces vowed to eliminate Hezbollah’s Unit 127, which manages the terror group’s unmanned aerial vehicles. According to The Times Of Israel, Israeli fighter jets neutralised Khadr Al-Abed Bahja.

Khader Al-Abed Bahja oversaw the Hezbollah Aerial Unit’s activities north of the Litani River. However, Israel has not specified where or when Bahja was killed.

“Under Bahja’s command, numerous aerial attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops were carried out from the area, making use of UAVs, surveillance aircraft, and explosive aircraft,” the IDF said.

Israeli military officials said dismantling Unit 127 would become a high priority after four soldiers were killed and nearly 60 injured when a drone struck the dining room of an army base in the central Binyamin region on Sunday night.

Who Was Khader Al-Abed Bahja?

Bahja was a key figure in Hezbollah’s aerial operations and played a role in overseeing drone and rocket strikes from the northern Litani region in Lebanon. Hezbollah launched numerous UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) toward Israel under his command, targeting both civilian infrastructure and IDF (Israel Defense Forces) positions. Bahja was an expert in the deployment of surveillance drones, while his other tasks included designing explosive-laden aircraft to breach Israeli airspace and cause devastation.

Helmed by Bahja, Hezbollah’s drone program has been a cause of concern for the Israeli defense strategists for months. His coordination of the attacks played a key role in Hezbollah’s recent surge in aggression, making his elimination a strategic priority for the IDF.

Iran-Hezbollah War

After the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, the Iran-backed Hezbollah began firing rockets and launching drones at northern Israel communities daily. According to figures released by the government on Sept. 29, more than 68,000 residents of northern Israel are displaced from their homes. Hezbollah leaders have repeatedly said they would continue the attacks to prevent Israelis from returning to their homes.

According to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 Second Lebanon War, the terror group is forbidden from operating in southern Lebanon south of the Litani River.

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