Israeli drones carried out a strike against the Beqaa District on Saturday, killing Ayman Ghatma, a Hamas figure who was responsible for supplying weapons to Hamas inside Lebanon. The vehicle attack came about 25 miles from the Syrian border.
The Israeli military said Ghatma was not only supplying Hamas with weapons but was also supplying equipment to al-Jama’a al-Islamiyya. The military termed him a “Lebanon supplies director.”
The Israeli army said he was killed because of his involvement in “terrorism against Israel,” and accused him of planning future attacks against Israel.
Israel has been at war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip since October. Though Israel has at times targeted Hamas figures inside neighboring Lebanon, the main operations against Lebanon have been against Hezbollah figures.
Near daily attacks have been conducted by Israel against Lebanon, mostly in the south. Strikes are also frequent against eastern Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, a major Hezbollah hub for weapons smuggling.
Reports are that the escalating attacks are leading to a “full-scale war” against Lebanon, with Israeli officials claiming this is a sanctioned strategy. Anticipating Hezbollah retaliation, Israel evacuated the Christian border town of Jish, adding to the tens of thousands on both sides already displaced by the anticipated war.
