The Israeli military said it killed a senior Hezbollah commander in a strike carried out in Lebanon as the terror group vows retaliation.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced Thursday that an overnight airstrike targeting a ‘Hezbollah military structure’ in Nabatieh killed Ali Muhammad Aldbas, a senior commander of the Radwan forces. His deputy commander, Ibrahim Issa, and an additional terrorist were killed in the attack, according to IDF.

‘Aldbas was amongst those who directed the terrorist attack at the Megiddo Junction in Israel in March 2023. He led, planned, and carried out terrorist activity toward the State of Israel, especially during this war,’ the IDF said. 

The Radwan Force is a special operation forces unit of Hezbollah specifically tasked with infiltrating and carrying out attacks in northern Israel. 

Hezbollah on Thursday said Israel would pay ‘the price’ for killing 10 people, including five children, in southern Lebanon in a separate airstrike the day before.

‘The enemy will pay the price for these crimes,’ Hezbollah politician Hassan Fadlallah told Reuters. ‘The resistance will continue to practice its legitimate right to defend its people.’

Several of the armed Lebanese group’s fighters were also killed in separate strikes on Wednesday, including on Nabatieh, Reuters reported, citing Hezbollah officials and security sources. 

The strikes came in response to a rocket barrage that struck several northern Israeli communities on Wednesday morning. One of those injured remains in serious condition, another received significant injuries and six others were lightly injured, according to local officials.

Hezbollah’s rockets struck the Kibbutz Manara, Moshav Netu’a, as well as a military base, all in northern Israel.

The exchange of fire comes after Israel has repeatedly warned Hezbollah that a full-scale war with Israel remains on the table.

IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari addressed Hezbollah earlier in February, saying that Israel will be ‘ready to attack immediately’ if provoked, but said they do not wish for outright war.

‘We do not choose war as our first priority, but we are certainly prepared,’ Hagari said.’We will continue to act wherever Hezbollah is present, we will continue to act wherever it is required in the Middle East. What is true for Lebanon is true for Syria, and is true for other more distant places.’

Hezbollah has been waging near daily attacks on Israeli targets at the border since its Palestinian ally Hamas stormed Israel from Gaza on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and abducting some 250, according to Israeli tallies.

Hezbollah has said its campaign will stop only when Israel halts its offensive in the Gaza Strip, where more than 28,000 people have been killed, according to health authorities in Hamas-run Gaza.

Both sides have said they want to avoid full-scale conflict, which would force Israel into a two-front war against Hamas to its south and Hezbollah to the north. 

Fox News Digital’s Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report. 

Sen. JD Vance’s office will send a letter to GOP lawmakers Thursday doubling down on the claim that the Ukraine-Israel-Taiwan foreign aid package contains an ‘impeachment time bomb’ that would tie the hands of the next administration.

Vance’s memo comes a day after former Vice President Mike Pence’s policy think tank, Advancing American Freedom (AAF), sent a memo to senators dismissing Vance’s claims. 

The national security supplemental text assures the delivery of $1.6 billion to finance Ukraine’s military as well as just under $14 billion for Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative through Sept. 30, 2025 – the same aid mechanism that Trump temporarily paused while pushing for an investigation into Biden family foreign business dealings. 

AAF claimed Wednesday that it’s the president’s duty to faithfully execute the law as ‘written into the Constitution’ — known as the Take Care clause — rejecting the argument made by the Nixon administration that the clause ’empowered the President to ignore federal statutes.’

Vance’s office said AAF was actually supporting their point that the Ukraine supplemental would tie Trump’s hands if he returns to the White House.

‘Therefore, they advance the claim that a future president would have a constitutional responsibility to ‘faithfully execute the law’ that requires him to fund Ukraine well into his second term or face a (fake) claim of a constitutional/legal violation,’ Vance’s office wrote in the new memo. ‘That is exactly the claim advanced by the Ukraine Supplemental Impeachment Time Bomb.’

‘Administration officials have been transparent about efforts to tie the hands of a future presidential administration, with one revealing to the Washington Post that this supplemental bill is a key component of their plan to ‘future-proof aid for Ukraine against the possibility that former president Donald Trump wins his reelection bid,’’ the memo continued. ‘Former senior administration officials, including a former director of the Office of Management and Budget, have validated that this supplemental bill may function as a ‘secret set of handcuffs’ and that opponents of a future president’s Ukraine policy ‘will use this to try and tie his hands in the initial weeks of his presidency.”

Meanwhile, AAF noted in their memo if the president wants to cut off federal aid to Ukraine, he must get approval from Congress in a 45-day timeframe, ‘otherwise he must dutifully execute the law as written.’ 

Vance’s office said that rebuttal actually ‘reinforces’ their position ‘that this supplemental would tie a future president’s hands on spending in Ukraine or he would risk impeachment from Democrats on the same absurd grounds as President Trump’s first impeachment.’

The Trump administration, through the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), withheld a total of about $400 million in security assistance from Ukraine in 2019. This came just before Trump asked Ukrainian President Voldomyr Zelenskyy to investigate the family of his 2020 rival, Joe Biden, and while the White House allegedly was withholding an Oval Office visit from Zelenskyy in exchange for an investigation.

These actions are what fueled the impeachment effort against Trump, in which he was ultimately acquitted. 

Vance’s memo argues previous Ukraine supplemental bills lacked sunset dates extending into future administrations. The Biden administration requested specific sunset dates in the current bill to extend aid into the next presidential term, which was granted despite most Senate Republicans voting against it. 

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Marc Short, AAF board chairman said ‘AAF will side with the Constitution on the powers given to Congress and the Executive Branch over Senator Vance’s conspiracies any day.’

Several other Republican allies of Trump agreed with Vance this week.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., said the provision in the bill ‘is gonna force him to send money and spend money for Ukraine.’

‘This is in the bill,’ Tuberville told Fox News Digital. ‘So, it’s just another situation where the Democrats are doing something and working towards making sure that money’s spent in a certain area where American taxpayers and this country don’t have.’

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky, also agreed with Vance and claimed that Democrats are ‘setting up’ for a possible Trump presidential win.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Tirana on Thursday to reinforce Albania’s critical role in U.S. foreign policy amid the most turbulent time in the Balkans in decades. 

‘This is really a stop that is going to focus on the future, the future of Albania, the future of the Western Balkans,’ Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasian Affairs Yuri Kim said at a State Department briefing previewing the upcoming visit to Albania and Germany.

A senior diplomat with expert knowledge of the region told Fox News Digital that reliable sources allege that the probability of conflict in the Western Balkans this year is very high. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić have Kosovo, Bosnia, Montenegro and North Macedonia in their crosshairs. The U.S. most likely knows this, the diplomat claims, which explains why there are military assets build-ups, and the selling of military equipment to Kosovo.

‘The risk of ethnic tensions escalating into an actual conflict in the Balkans is increasing. Russia and Serbia, neither of which have recognized Kosovo’s independence, appear to be involved in fueling instability in the region,’ Rebekah Koffler, a former defense intelligence analyst, told Fox News Digital.

Blinken is meeting with Prime Minister Edi Rama and will reaffirm the strength of the United States’ relations with Albania, a key partner for stability in the Western Balkans and a firm ally in supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty in its war against Russia.

It has been a particularly rocky period for the Western Balkans, and many observers in the region believe the region is once again a tinderbox ready to ignite.

The U.S. established a forward operating headquarters in Albania in 2022 as a home base for operations in the Balkans and can help Albania and other allies in the region counter Russian influence and disinformation. Russia has been especially active in Montenegro, where Moscow looked to undermine the small nation’s bid to join NATO and move closer to Europe.

‘This might be the start of concrete efforts to contain Serbia, and consequently Russian influence, in the Balkans by shoring up vulnerable NATO allies and countering Russo-Serbian hybrid and disinformation operations in Bosnia and Kosovo,’ the diplomat told Fox News Digital. 

Former Albanian Ambassador to the U.S. and the United Nations Agim Nesho told Fox News Digital that Prime Minister Rama’s lack of influence in Kosovo, particularly with Prime Minister Albin Kurti, complicates matters and that Rama’s close collaboration with Vučić on numerous projects in the region have tarnished his credibility, rendering him an ineffective mediator in Kosovo’s eyes.

Rama is a co-leader of the ‘Open Balkans’ initiative, a proposal that would facilitate a freer flow of people and goods across the Balkans. Many people in Albania and across the Balkans oppose the initiative over fears that it is a Serbian ploy to supplant the common regional market of Europe and would threaten Balkan countries’ desire to join the EU.

‘Secretary Blinken’s visit, though ostensibly supportive, comes at a time when the State Department’s long-standing backing of the Open Balkan initiative, predicated on the Rama-Vučić partnership as catalysts for regional stability, faces scrutiny,’ Nesho told Fox News Digital. 

‘Currently, Vučić’s inclination towards Russia and Rama’s diminished stature as a leader accused of corruption, who has seemingly lost the support of the Albanian people, paint a bleak picture,’ Nesho added.

Albania, once an authoritarian Marxist country with bitter relations with the U.S. during the Cold War, is now one of the most pro-U.S. countries in Europe and has a large diaspora community in the United States. Albania is also an important NATO ally and key strategic partner when it comes to solving the dispute between Kosovo and Serbia.

Some experts and observers in the region claim the amount of attention Albania receives from President Biden and Western policymakers is little for a country struggling to consolidate its democracy. The region has also taken a backseat to Ukraine while it fights to hold back Russian forces and recently in Israel’s war against Hamas. 

Blinken will also visit Germany to participate in the Munich Security Conference as part of the U.S. delegation led by Vice President Kamala Harris.

Requests to the Albanian government for comment were not returned by press time.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed in an interview on state television that he would prefer the ‘more predictable’ Joe Biden winning the upcoming U.S. presidential election compared to Donald Trump. 

Putin made the remark after being asked by an interviewer about who between Biden and the Republican frontrunner for the nomination would be a better choice from Russia’s point of view. 

‘Biden, he’s more experienced, more predictable, he’s a politician of the old formation,’ Putin responded. ‘But we will work with any U.S. leader whom the American people trust.’ 

Trump, speaking at a rally last night in South Carolina, called Putin’s words a ‘great compliment.’ 

‘President Putin of Russia has just given me a great compliment, actually. He’s just said that he would much rather have Joe Biden as president than Trump,’ Trump told the crowd in North Charleston. ‘Now, that’s a compliment. A lot of people said, ‘oh, gee, that’s too bad.’ No, no, that’s a good thing.’ 

Putin also commented on Biden’s mental state following the release of Special Counsel Robert Hur’s report last week calling him a ‘sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.’ 

‘When I met with Biden in Switzerland — true, that was several years, three years ago — people were already saying he wasn’t up to it. I didn’t see anything of the kind,’ Putin said, according to Reuters. 

The news agency quoted Putin as saying that Trump ‘has been called a non-systemic politician; he has his own view on the topic of how the United States should develop relations with its allies.’ 

Asked about Trump’s statement on Saturday in which he said he once warned he would allow Russia to do whatever it wants to NATO member nations that are ‘delinquent’ in devoting 2% of their gross domestic product to defense, Putin responded that it’s up to the U.S. to determine its role in the alliance. 

Trump’s statement sharply contrasted with Biden’s pledge ‘to defend every inch of NATO territory,’ as the alliance commits all members to do in case of attack. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Israeli special forces raided the largest hospital in southern Gaza after receiving intelligence that Hamas was keeping the remains of hostages inside the facility Thursday.

Israeli officials say they had ‘credible intelligence’ that Hamas had housed Israeli hostages at the hospital following the Oct. 7 massacre, and they believed remains may still be on site. IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari described the operation as ‘limited’ and said there were no plans to forcibly evacuate doctors or patients.

While it is so far unclear whether they found remains, Israel says its forces did apprehend several Hamas suspects who had been operating within the hospital.

The IDF told Fox News Digital that it officially contacted the director of the Nasser Medical Center on Tuesday and called for the immediate cessation of all Hamas terrorist activity from within the hospital and the immediate evacuation of all Hamas terrorists from within.

‘We have credible intelligence from a number of sources, including from released hostages, indicating that Hamas held hostages at the Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis and that there may be bodies of our hostages in the Nasser hospital facility,’ the IDF said in a statement as the operation was underway. ‘As was proven with the Shifa Hospital; Rantisi Hospital; Al Amal Hospital; and many other hospitals across Gaza, Hamas systematically uses hospitals as terror hubs.’

One released hostage said publicly last month that she and over two dozen other hostages had been held in the Nasser Hospital.

Medical officials say many within the hospital cannot comply with evacuation orders due to their injuries, and that even those who can face an uncertain choice.

‘People have been forced into an impossible situation,’ said Lisa Macheiner of the aid group Doctors Without Borders, which has staff in the hospital. ‘Stay at Nasser Hospital against the Israeli military’s orders and become a potential target, or exit the compound into an apocalyptic landscape where bombings and evacuation orders are a part of daily life.’

Israel’s operation comes just hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to move forward with an invasion of the Gaza-Egypt border town of Rafah. Netanyahu said the military will allow civilians sheltering in the city to flee before taking ‘powerful action.’

President Biden’s administration has said it will not support an Israeli invasion of Rafah unless Israel presents a clear plan for protecting civilian life.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

If the second attempt to impeach the Homeland Security chief had taken place a short time later, the Republicans would have failed again.

Instead, they managed to impeach Alejandro Mayorkas–the first sitting Cabinet secretary to draw that sanction–by a single vote.

But after a victory in George Santos’ old district, the Democrats would have had the extra vote to stop the impeachment.

Tom Suozzi beat Republican Mazi Pilip in Tuesday’s special election on Long Island, unleashing a tidal wave of punditry about his winning formula–openly tackling such issues as illegal migration and crime rather than avoiding them.

I always caution against drawing sweeping conclusions in one-off local races, and this election in a snowstorm is no exception. 

The underlying factor was Santos, the outlandish, lying, fabricating lawmaker who won the seat with a made-up resume, was expelled by the House and is under indictment. Voters felt hosed by the Republican publicity hound, and maybe the Dems were more motivated to vote.

Sure, Suozzi deserves credit for seizing on illegal migration and crime rather than avoiding such explosive issues – and doggedly distancing himself from President Biden. But he also has to run again in the fall.

Trump, for his part, blamed Pilip, ‘running in a race where she didn’t endorse me and tried to ‘straddle the fence,’ when she would have easily WON if she understood anything about MODERN DAY politics in America…I STAYED OUT OF THE RACE, ‘I WANT TO BE LOVED!’’ 

A subtle Valentine’s Day message?

The move against Mayorkas, the first against a Cabinet officer in 150 years, is about the politics of symbolism. Republicans know full well the Democratic-controlled Senate is not going to convict him. This was about keeping the spotlight on one of the GOP’s best issues.

But if the press saddled Johnson with a humiliating defeat last week, it has to credit him with a big win now.

Both episodes shed light on the fractious politics of the Hill. Just when it looked like the Senate might pass a bipartisan border security bill–which included military aid to Ukraine and Israel–Donald Trump ripped it and the package was dead.

Now the Senate appears ready to pass a stand-alone military aid bill by a filibuster-proof majority. But Johnson says he won’t bring it up for a House floor vote.

That would bury it, unless a handful of Republicans join with Democrats to force a vote through a discharge petition.

Think about it: the United States, unable to help two major allies because of election-year politics, especially Ukraine, which remains under siege by Vladimir Putin.

And that’s why Biden took the rare step of delivering a televised speech on Tuesday.

His predecessor gave him an opening by saying he wouldn’t protect any NATO member who didn’t pay its fair share in military costs. And if that were the case, Putin and Russia could ‘do whatever the hell they want.’

Biden, in his speech, accused Trump of siding with the Russian dictator, calling the comments ‘dumb,’ ‘shameful,’ ‘dangerous’ and ‘un-American.’

Put aside whether Biden is right or Trump is trying to pressure delinquent allies. Joe Biden passed up a softball Super Bowl interview. So why is he getting in front of the cameras now?

One, he’s trying to get push Congress to pass the military aid bill.

Two, he’s trying to change the subject from his own questionable memory in that wake of that stinging special counsel’s report.

Three, he is finally heeding the advice of those who say he needs to do more television to prove his competence and dim the focus on every gaffe or misstatement.

What’s fascinating is the spin of each party when it comes to backing their candidate.

Democrats are hitting the airwaves saying Biden is sharp and laser-focused in private, and counsel Robert Hur has no business airing his personal criticism of the president’s mental acuity.

Republicans are saying Trump would not actually abandon NATO and that he doesn’t mean what he’s saying.

And everyone is getting sustained exposure to a system that generally favors political maneuvering over actual results.

Special Counsel Jack Smith has requested that the U.S. Supreme Court reject former President Trump’s bid to delay his 2020 election interference from going to trial. 

Trump’s legal team requested the delay be extended earlier this week as the court considers whether to take up the question of whether the former president is immune from prosecution for official acts in the White House. Two lower courts have overwhelmingly rejected that argument, prompting Trump to ask the high court to intervene.

Prosecutors responded to Trump’s appeal within two days even though the court had given them until next Tuesday.

Though their filing does not explicitly mention the upcoming November election or Trump’s status as the Republican primary front-runner, prosecutors described the case as having ‘unique national importance’ and said that ‘delay in the resolution of these charges threatens to frustrate the public interest in a speedy and fair verdict.’

Smith’s team charged Trump in August with plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Trump’s lawyers, meanwhile, have argued that he is shielded from prosecution for acts that fell within his official duties as president — a legally untested argument since no other former president has been indicted.

The trial judge and then a federal appeals court rejected those arguments, with a three-judge appeals panel last week saying, ‘We cannot accept that the office of the Presidency places its former occupants above the law for all time thereafter.’

The proceedings have been effectively frozen by Trump’s immunity appeal, with U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan canceling a March 4 trial date while the appeals court considered the matter. No new date has been set.

Earlier Wednesday, prosecutors urged the court to reject Trump’s petition to hear the case, saying that lower court opinions rejecting immunity for the former president ‘underscore how remote the possibility is that this Court will agree with his unprecedented legal position.’

However, if the court does want to decide the matter, Smith said, the justices should hear arguments in March and issue a final ruling by late June. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.