Israeli airstrike 'eliminates' top Hezbollah military chief as Middle East tensions rise

ISRAEL last night claimed that its forces had killed a senior Hezbollah commander in a targeted airstrike in Lebanon.

- Mark Reynolds

Ismail Yusaf Baz, chief of the militant group's coastal sector, was "eliminated" in an attack in the Ain Ebel area, it was said.

The Israel Defence Forces revealed the news, claiming one of its aircraft had made the strike.

It came as the world nervously awaited Israel's response to the weekend missile and drone attack on its territory by Iran.

Yusaf Baz had served as a senior official in several positions in Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shia Islamist militant group backed by Iran.

He had planned rocket and anti-tank missile launches toward Israel from Lebanon's coastal area, the IDF had said.

An Israeli military chief has vowed that Iran's attack on Saturday "will be met with a response" despite a growing chorus of calls for restraint from across the international community.

After an emergency meeting of the country's five-member war cabinet, which includes Prime 

Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Jerusalem made it clear that there will a robust retaliation from Israel to the missile and drone assault, despite pleas for a more measured response.

Herzi Halevi, IDF military chief of staff, confirmed Israel would hit back, but provided no further details.