Foreigner slain in missile attack on Israel’s Margaliot

In a missile attack near the Lebanese border on Monday, a foreign worker lost his life, and at least seven others were injured, marking the latest incident in ongoing cross-border hostilities.

The Magen David Adom emergency service reported that the casualties occurred when an anti-tank missile struck foreign laborers at a plantation. Among the injured, all identified as Indian men in their 30s, two are in serious condition. The nationality of the deceased was not specified.

Following the attack, the Israeli army was observed evacuating several injured foreign workers to ambulances in the vicinity of Kiryat Shmona, a town in northern Israel.

The military acknowledged that civilians were impacted by the assault from Lebanon and were promptly airlifted for medical treatment.

This confrontation took place close to Margaliot, a small farming settlement on the border. In retaliation, the Israeli forces targeted the launch site in Lebanon.

The exchange of fire between Israel and Hezbollah has been a daily occurrence since the Gaza conflict began. Hezbollah, aligning with Hamas, aims to engage Israeli forces in the north in support of the Palestinian cause.

Hezbollah has yet to officially acknowledge responsibility for the recent missile strike.

On the same day, Hezbollah claimed to have thwarted two Israeli incursions into Lebanese territory and conducted artillery strikes on an Israeli military site and surveillance equipment in the disputed Shebaa Farms area.

Meanwhile, U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein visited Beirut to engage with Lebanese leaders in efforts to reduce tensions.

The ongoing clashes have resulted in the deaths of over 200 Hezbollah combatants and at least 44 civilians in Lebanon, with the Israeli toll including both civilians and military personnel.

The conflict has displaced tens of thousands from their homes on both sides of the border. Despite any ceasefire in Gaza, Israel has pledged to maintain its offensive against Hezbollah to deter proximity to the border.

In recent years, Israel has attracted farm workers from Thailand and other Asian nations, offering higher wages. Some of these foreign workers were victims of the Hamas-initiated attack on October 7.