On Monday, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) launched an aerial operation targeting Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters in Syria. In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), the IDF confirmed the attack, stating, "The IDF conducted an aerial operation and struck terror targets belonging to Hezbollah's intelligence headquarters in Syria."

The IDF elaborated on its recent activities, indicating that it has “significantly degraded Hezbollah's intelligence headquarters” over recent weeks, both in Syria and Lebanon. "In recent weeks, the IDF has significantly degraded Hezbollah's intelligence headquarters, destroying military intelligence assets in Lebanon and damaging the organisation's intelligence-gathering capabilities,” the IDF added. “The targeting of Hezbollah's military intelligence assets in Syria further contributes to the IDF operations in Lebanon, undermining the intelligence abilities of the Hezbollah terrorist organisation."

This escalation follows another IDF operation earlier in the week when Israeli forces crossed into Syria to arrest an alleged terror operative, Ali Suleiman al-Aadi. According to the IDF, al-Aadi—a Syrian national residing in Saida, was collaborating with Iranian agents to gather intelligence on Israeli border activities for future attacks. The IDF, which monitored al-Aadi’s activities, has now brought him to Israel for interrogation.

A statement from the IDF emphasised its ongoing security efforts in the region: "The IDF will continue to work for the security of the borders and will not allow the establishment of the Iranian axis and the directing of hostile sabotage activity from southern Syria." Al-Aadi also reportedly described a recent interaction with an Iranian operative, saying, “We sat together on the fence. [He] looked around like this and said, 'Your area is good from a strategic point of view. We could profit from it.'”

The arrested operative noted that his Iranian contact posed as a Syrian military intelligence official but had direct ties to Iran. "He said he was from military intelligence, but in fact, Iran was behind him. From what I understand he belongs to Iran," al-Aadi disclosed.

This latest series of operations comes as Iranian officials have intensified their rhetoric, threatening possible retaliation following Israeli airstrikes on October 26 that targeted military bases and air defence systems. The situation remains tense as Israel continues its strategy to curb Hezbollah’s influence and counter any potential threats orchestrated through Syria and Lebanon.