Israel eliminates Quds Force engineering head, claims he advanced underground projects across Lebanon, Syria
Tel Aviv, April 1
The Israel Defense Forces on Wednesday killed Mahdi Vafaei, the Head of the Engineering Branch of the Quds Force's Lebanon Corps in the Mahallat Area in Iran.
IDF said that Vafaei advanced underground projects across Lebanon and Syria.
In a post on X, it said, "ELIMINATED: Mahdi Vafaei, the Head of the Engineering Branch of the Quds Force's Lebanon Corps in the Mahallat Area in Iran. Vafaei advanced underground projects across Lebanon and Syria, leading efforts to establish and manage underground terrorist infrastructure sites for Hezbollah and the Assad regime."
Earlier on Tuesday, IDF killed Ibrahim al-Khaldi, a terrorist from the Hamas naval force, in the area of Nuseirat.
In a post on X, IDF said, "ELIMINATED: Ibrahim al-Khaldi, a terrorist from the Hamas naval force, in the area of Nuseirat. Al-Khaldi has functioned as a source of expertise, while planning and advancing maritime terror attacks against IDF troops from Gaza."
Earlier in the day, the IDF detailed the scale of its ongoing military campaign against Iran and its regional allies, claiming thousands of targets have been struck as part of a coordinated offensive alongside the United States Central Command (CENTCOM).
In a video message on a post on X, the IDF spokesperson, Brigadier General Effie Defrin, said the joint operation, launched about a month ago with US forces, is aimed at significantly weakening the "Iranian terror regime" and its network of proxies.
"More than 4,000 targets were attacked, within them more than 10,000 terror components," Defrin said, outlining the breadth of the campaign.
The IDF said it had " eliminated the master terrorist Ali Khamenei" and reported that an Israeli Adir fighter jet had shot down an Iranian aircraft over Iranian airspace. The statement also highlighted intensified operations against Hezbollah, including airstrikes and a ground entry into Lebanon.
— ANI
Reader Comments
"Underground projects" sounds like a massive security threat. It reminds you of the tunnel networks used by terrorists in our own region. Israel's action, while harsh, seems pre-emptive. The world needs to be united against states that sponsor terror infrastructure. 🇮🇳
The scale is staggering - 4000 targets? This is a full-scale war being fought in the shadows. The US-Israel coordination is very tight. Makes you wonder about the intelligence sharing and what it means for global power dynamics. India must navigate this carefully.
Reading this from Delhi. The language is very aggressive - "ELIMINATED" in all caps. It feels like a PR war as much as a military one. Every action creates more radicalization. There has to be a diplomatic path, but it seems farther away than ever.
As an Indian, my primary concern is the impact on oil prices and our diaspora in the Gulf. These strikes inside Iran and Lebanon are a major risk. Our foreign policy has to balance our ties with Israel, the US, and the Gulf Arabs. Tough job for MEA.
With respect, I have to criticize the article's framing. It mostly parrots the IDF statement. Where is the context or the other side? What are the civilian casualties in these "4,000 targets"? Journalism should ask questions, not just broadcast claims.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.