Israel conducted an airstrike on a “military structure” used by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, killing four Hezbollah fighters, according to the Lebanese health ministry. The attack targeted a house in Maifadoun, approximately 30 km from the Israeli border. In response, Hezbollah launched drone strikes on northern Israel, injuring two people in Mazra’a.
This escalation follows the killing of senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut by an Israeli airstrike last week. Israeli officials accuse Shukr of orchestrating a recent rocket attack on the Golan Heights that killed 12 children and teenagers, a claim Hezbollah denies. The situation has intensified further with the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, which Iran attributes to Israel.
The heightened tensions have led to fears of a broader regional conflict. The US has urged its citizens to leave Lebanon and President Joe Biden convened his national security team to discuss support for Israel. UN rights chief Volker Turk has called for urgent de-escalation. Meanwhile, a rocket attack on Iraq’s Ain al-Assad base, hosting US forces, resulted in injuries to several American personnel.
