Hezbollah fighter killed in Israeli strikes as violence grows

A three-person death toll has been reported following an Israeli airstrike on a border town in southern Lebanon.

According to a statement issued by the Iranian-linked Lebanese armed group, a bombing carried out late Tuesday in Bint Jbeil targeted a house, killing a fighter from Hezbollah and two relatives.

Hezbollah had previously attacked Israeli posts near the border in a series of attacks before these strikes took place. Since the Israeli-Gaza war began on October 7, there have been escalating exchanges of fire between the border area between Lebanon and Israel.

During a press conference on Wednesday, Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) identified the victims as Ali Bazzi, Ibrahim Bazzi and Shourouk Hammoud Bazzi who were all killed in a car accident late on Tuesday.

According to National News Agency (NNA), enemy warplanes raided a house, near the town of Bint Jbeil, about 2km (1 mile) from the border, before midnight (22:00 GMT), killing three and injuring a fourth member of the family.

It has been reported by AFP news agency that Ibrahim Bazzi, a citizen of Australia, visited the country about a week ago for a short visit and that he had flown in for a holiday. It has been revealed that Hezbollah has one of its fighters named Ali Bazzi as well.

While Israel and Hezbollah have conducted limited air raids deeper into the territory of Lebanon in recent weeks, the recent intensification of violence between the two sides has mostly been limited to the border area.

In an interview Ali Hashem from the town, Hashem reported that it was the first time Bint Jbeil has been attacked since 2006. Nevertheless, Israel’s warplanes continue to target seven other southern Lebanese towns on a daily basis, as they are doing now. The place is in the middle of a war.”

There have been some efforts by Israel in the past few weeks to encourage Hezbollah to move north of the Litani River, which lies about 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the Israeli border.

In Israel’s military’s statement on Tuesday, it was stated that nine soldiers were injured by an anti-tank missile fired by an armed group with ties to Iran as they were going to help a civilian who was injured earlier.

According to the Israel army’s radio and media reports on Wednesday, the border with Lebanon had been used by the Lebanese to launch 18 missiles at northeastern Israel.

There were eight missiles that were heading towards the Rosh Hanikra kibbutz when the Israeli army shot them down as sirens were sounded in the area. Based on the reports, it appears that the attacks did not result in any injuries or damage to property.

There have been over 150 confirmed deaths on the Lebanese side since hostilities began. Most of them are Hezbollah fighters, however, there have also been more than a dozen civilian death, including three journalists.

As far as the Israeli side is concerned, there have been at least three civilians and nine soldiers killed since the middle of October, according to military figures.