BEKAA VALLEY: A man was killed in an Israeli strike on a car near the Syrian border in eastern Lebanon on Sunday, a security source confirmed, following overnight exchanges of fire that left several wounded, AFP reported.
The strike, targeting a vehicle in Suwairi, resulted in the death of its Syrian driver, according to a security source who spoke on condition of anonymity due to security concerns. Earlier reports had claimed that the driver was injured before succumbing to his wounds.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency initially reported that the strike wounded the driver, who was delivering food in a car belonging to a supermarket owner. Images from the scene showed a burnt-out vehicle and bloodstains on the ground nearby.
In a separate incident overnight Saturday, Israeli jets struck a Hezbollah center in al-Osseira, injuring four residents in nearby buildings, according to a second security source. The strike ended a brief period of relative calm, marking a resurgence of tensions in the region.
Hezbollah, in response to the Israeli strikes, claimed to have fired “more than 60 Katyusha-type rockets” at two Israeli military positions in the occupied Golan Heights. The Israeli military confirmed the rocket fire, stating that approximately 50 launches were identified from Lebanon toward northern Israel, with some intercepted and others landing in open areas.
The escalation comes amid ongoing cross-border hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, which have intensified since October last year when Israel launched a military operation against Palestinian resistance in Gaza. Recent weeks have seen increased Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah strongholds in eastern Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley area.
Hezbollah has pledged to continue its attacks on Israel until a ceasefire is achieved in Gaza. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has reiterated Israel’s commitment to pushing Hezbollah back from its northern border, whether through force or diplomacy, regardless of developments in Gaza.
The exchanges of fire have resulted in casualties on both sides, with at least 325 people killed in Lebanon, mostly civilians.
