Israeli Soldier Killed in Hezbollah Drone Strike in Northern Israel

Hezbollah launched a flurry of drones against the northern Israeli military target near Ya’ara. One of the drones exploded, killing Israeli Chief Warrant Officer Mahmoud Amaria, and wounded several others, one of them seriously.

Israel reported that three of the five drones detected from Lebanon were intercepted, while one drone exploded near Gesher Haziv in Western Galilee, and the other exploded near Ya’ara. Hezbollah took responsibility for the strike.

Israel responded by launching a series of attacks across southern Lebanon as well as northeastern Lebanon. Two Hezbollah members were reported killed in the Israeli strike in southern Houla. Another building was attacked in southern Lebanon’s Ayta ash-Shaab.

Israel also carried out attacks in the northeastern Baalbek District, with locals reporting a number of explosions in at least three towns. Israel described the attack as targeting a Hezbollah weapons depot, though that has not been confirmed to be the case.

The Israeli attack wounded at least eight civilians across Baalbek District, including two children. All of the civilians were reported by the Lebanese Health Ministry as being taken to local emergency departments for treatment.

Attacks have been on the rise between Israel and Hezbollah in recent months, with growing international concern that the situation will be escalating into a full-scale Israeli invasion. US and French officials have been in the region recently trying to negotiate a deal to settle tensions and end the fighting.