Brig.-Gen. Amichai Levine, the newly appointed commander of Hatzerim Airbase, revealed on Saturday that the mission to neutralize Hassan Nasrallah demanded unique, world-class capabilities from the Israel Air Force. The operation required extreme precision to strike a deep underground area while maintaining perfect deception, ensuring that Nasrallah, Ali Karaki, and other senior figures would not detect the attack and escape.
“The operation succeeded perfectly,” Levine said, praising the ground crews and technical teams for their seamless execution. Not only did they ensure the aircraft’s readiness, but they also managed the munitions, which performed flawlessly despite the complex mission conditions. “About a hundred munitions were used, with bombers dropping them every two seconds in perfect precision.”
He also commended the 69th Squadron, known as the “Hammers,” which operates F-15I Ra’am fighter jets and has been involved in notable operations in Lebanon and Syria. The squadron faced scrutiny before the war due to protests against the judicial overhaul, but for 11 months, the squadron’s pilots, both reservists and regulars, have been on continuous alert for missions across the Middle East, ready for future challenges.
When asked about the squadron’s involvement amid the protests over the judicial overhaul before October 7, Levine responded: “The 69th Squadron is a strategic squadron in the air force and has been for decades. It’s responsible for some of the air force’s most critical missions. The squadron’s fighters are diverse in age (up to 50) and profession.
“Half of them are reservists, and roughly half of the fighters who participated in this operation were reservists. No one in Israel should doubt their love for the country, their willingness to sacrifice their lives, and even put their lives on the line for both nearby and distant missions – I think this operation underscores that. For 11 months, they’ve been on alert, flying around the clock, and they’ll continue as long as the war goes on.”
The IDF’s three goals
“We have three goals: returning the hostages, dismantling Hamas, and ensuring the safe return of northern residents to their homes. The base, squadron and the entire air force are operating powerfully despite the media focus,” Levine stated.
“The separation of the northern and southern fronts is critical to dismantling Hamas and creating the conditions necessary to bring back the hostages,” the brigadier-general said. Yesterday, we executed a historic operation of immense strategic importance. Nasrallah is seen as the most central figure in the Shi’ite axis. This will significantly impact the Middle East and move us closer to achieving our war goals. The operation was long planned and reflects extraordinary collaboration with the Military Intelligence Directorate and the air force. I know all the intelligence officers who contribute incredible capabilities,” he said.
“What was missing before October 7 was initiative and aggressiveness. We still have unfinished business: We need to root out Hamas, and we haven’t brought the hostages home. There are still issues that require our attention,” Levine said.
He further acknowledged Brig.-Gen. Guy Davidson, the outgoing commander of Hatzerim Airbase: “Davidson deserves a lot of credit. Two weeks ago, I received a base that is a well-oiled war machine. But there are many people who deserve recognition for their recent performances: the air force orchestra has been playing in full glory in recent days and weeks. Davidson is certainly one of these key and valued individuals,” he said, adding that “Davidson was my flight instructor many years ago, and I owe him personal credit.”
“The challenge in elimination operations is precise intelligence,” Levine explained. “All agencies need to provide intelligence for every operation. The second challenge is ensuring that the target – Nasrallah, Karaki, and others – does not escape while the planes are en route or the munitions are on their way to the target.
“Each time, this is done creatively and through various methods, relying on ideas from young officers who are given the freedom to think and senior ranks who listen to them. They bring innovative solutions to deceive our enemies, ensuring the target remains stable during execution. Surface-to-air missiles in Lebanon still pose a threat, but we’ve also targeted them. We’ve hit dozens of infrastructure elements of various kinds, including weapons. Hezbollah’s capabilities have been reduced, and it remains a primary focus for the air force.”
Lt. Col. M., commander of the 69th Squadron, shared: “A wide range of crews flew the elimination mission in the Dahiyeh district of Beirut, from ages 23 to 50. This shows how the squadron operates – regular and reserve forces together. The mission was flawless, both in planning, execution, and outcome. Everything went smoothly. We launched a massive strike in the heart of Beirut. There was a sense of pride on a personal level: for the navigator, the crews, the officer whose cousin was killed, and the family.”
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