Israeli slain in Hezbollah border ambush

Overnight, a Hezbollah strike in the Kfarshouba Hills, which are under Israeli control, resulted in the death of an Israeli citizen, according to an announcement from the Israeli military on Friday.

Hezbollah reported that they had launched a coordinated assault on an Israeli military convoy near the Ruweisat al-Alam position in the Kfarshouba Hills. The attack involved anti-tank missiles and artillery, leading to the destruction of two Israeli vehicles. According to Hezbollah, the ambush occurred just before midnight on Thursday, and in response, the Israeli forces deployed smoke screens to facilitate the evacuation of those wounded.

The Israeli army confirmed that the attack included two anti-tank missile strikes coming from Lebanon, which injured an Israeli civilian who subsequently succumbed to his injuries. The deceased was identified as Sharif Suad from Sallama, a Bedouin town, and was reportedly engaged in infrastructure work in the area at the time.

Following the attack, Israeli forces conducted retaliatory strikes with artillery and warplanes targeting the areas of Shebaa, Kfarshouba, and Halta. The military specified that their jets had hit Hezbollah “infrastructure” near Kfarshouba, targeting a weapons storage facility and a rocket launching site.

This incident followed a statement by Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Thursday, which Hezbollah refuted, claiming that “half of Hezbollah’s commanders in southern Lebanon have been eliminated” amid ongoing hostilities.

Further military response from Israel on Friday included artillery and tank shelling targeting the outskirts of Dhaira, Yarin, and al-Jebbayn, as well as a residential structure in Yarin.