Israeli Drone Strike Kills Senior Hezbollah Member in Southern Lebanon

Foreign citizens urged to leave Lebanon as Israeli invasion looms

An Israeli drone strike took place near Bazourieh in southern Lebanon on Saturday morning, killing a man described by Israeli officials as a “senior” member of Hezbollah identified as Ali Nazih Abed Ali.

The Israeli military claimed that Ali had been involved in planning and carrying out various terrorist attacks out of southern Lebanon. They claimed his death as a serious blow to Hezbollah operations on the southern Lebanese border with Israel.

On Sunday, an Israeli airstrike was also reported against Beit Lif, also in southern Lebanon. At least three Lebanese civilians were reported wounded. Israel also attacked what they described as terrorist infrastructure in Marjayoun.

Hezbollah responded to the Saturday killing by firing an estimated 30 rockets against the Galilee panhandle in northern Israel. Israel reported that most of the rockets had been intercepted, though some landed in open areas.

Tensions have been soaring between Hezbollah and Israel, with tit-for-tat strikes by both sides on almost a daily basis. There is growing concern that the two sides are on the brink of war, with Israel planning an invasion.

Officials in countries around the world have been warning citizens in Lebanon to leave as soon as possible, with the US Embassy saying travelers should use any ticket available to them to get out of the country.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.