BEIRUT: A Hezbollah commander, two other fighters, and seven civilians were killed in an Israeli strike in south Lebanon’s Nabatiyeh, a security source reported on Thursday, revising the toll from a raid a day earlier, AFP reported.
The Hezbollah commander, identified as Ali al-Debs, had previously been targeted and wounded in an Israeli drone strike in the southern Lebanese city of Nabatiyeh on February 8, according to the security source, as reported by AFP. Two other Hezbollah fighters and seven civilians from the same family were also killed in Wednesday’s strike on a building in the city.
Hezbollah confirmed the deaths of three of its fighters, including Debs, without specifying the location of their deaths. The Israeli army reported on Wednesday that a soldier was killed in unclaimed rocket fire from Lebanon and that its jets conducted strikes on Lebanon.
Conflict Between Israel and Hezbollah
The strikes have led to rising casualties on both sides, with an AFP tally reporting at least 259 people killed on the Lebanese side, including Hezbollah fighters and civilians. On the Israeli side, 10 soldiers and six civilians have been killed, according to the Israeli army.
The cross-border violence has intensified fears of another full-scale conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, with both sides exchanging near-daily cross-border fire since Israel’s bombardment in Gaza began on October 7.
Hezbollah claimed attacks on Israeli “spy equipment” and a barracks, while the Israeli military reported striking “dozens” of Hezbollah targets in south Lebanon.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is scheduled to address the situation on Friday, marking his second such address this week as tensions continue to escalate in the region.
