Hezbollah Commander Among Two Killed in Israeli Drone Strike in Southern Lebanon

Eight people also reported injured as Israel pounds border area

An Israeli drone strike killed two people on a motorcycle in the southern Lebanon town of Jouaiyya in southern Lebanon’s Tyre District today. One of the slain was identified as Hassan Fares Jeshi, a Hezbollah commander who was reportedly with the anti-tank missile arm of the faction.

The other killed has yet to be identified. In addition, the Lebanese Health Ministry reported six locals were injured in the strike.

Israel also launched an attack against the border town of Aitaroun, also in southern Lebanon, and wounded at least two people there. There was no word from either side as to why Aitaroun was attacked.

Further Israeli shelling was reported against the southern Lebanon towns of Naqoura, Jebbayn, Tayr Harfa and Zibqin. A white phosphorous attack was reported against the Shebaa Farms near the border with Israel.

Earlier in the day, Hezbollah fired rockets against the Israeli border town of Shlomi. They reported “direct hits,” although there were no immediate reports of damage from the attack.

Tensions have soared between Israel and Hezbollah for months, and both sides have escalated even further in recent weeks, fueling international fear of an imminent war.  Several nations have urged their citizens to leave Lebanon as soon as possible for their own safety.

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.