Hezbollah Commander Describes Combat Operations Against Israel in Lebanon

BEIRUT, Lebanon — A Hezbollah field commander spoke to NPR by phone on Thursday about his experiences in combat with Israel. The interview lasted 40 minutes and was conducted due to security risks from Israeli airstrikes and drone attacks targeting Hezbollah members.

The commander, who uses the nom de guerre Jihad and is 62 years old, has been a member of Hezbollah's military wing since 2001 and holds a rank equivalent to a two-star general.

Jihad described being wounded the previous day in an Israeli bombardment of Beirut's southern suburbs. An Israeli missile struck a street near a building where he was sheltering, causing flying glass and debris to injure his arms and legs. Lebanese authorities reported that the bombardment killed more than 350 people, and Jihad stated that two individuals died next to him during the incident.

Despite his injuries, Jihad said he was back on duty the following day. He explained his role involves commuting between Beirut's southern suburbs, where Hezbollah maintains offices, and southern Lebanon, where he oversees troops in combat. Jihad indicated his expertise includes operating rockets, which Hezbollah has launched by the thousands into northern Israel.

Response to Regional Events Hezbollah began firing rockets from Lebanon into northern Israel on March 2, following attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran on February 28.

The group paused its attacks this week upon reports of a ceasefire between the United States and Iran, which Hezbollah believed would extend to Lebanon. However, after Israel stated the ceasefire did not apply and initiated a major assault on Lebanon, Hezbollah announced it had resumed rocket fire.

Jihad described Hezbollah's tactics for confronting Israeli forces, which possess advanced weapons and technology.