Europe 1 with AFP // Photo credits: 12:45 p.m., March 29, 2024, modified at 12:51 p.m., March 29, 2024
This Friday, March 29, Lebanese military forces accused Israel of the death of one of the leaders of Hezbollah, a paramilitary group that supports Hamas. The Israeli army confirmed this information. The strike hit southern Lebanon, while in recent days, cross-border violence has increased between the two countries.
A “major official” of Lebanese Hezbollah was killed Friday in a strike on his car in southern Lebanon, a Lebanese military source said, accusing Israel. The Israeli army, for its part, claims to have eliminated a head of the missile unit. For almost six months, daily violence on the Israeli-Lebanese border has pitted the Israeli army against Hezbollah, which claims to want to support the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas in its war against Israel in the Gaza Strip.
Lebanon responds
The pro-Iranian armed movement targets military positions and localities near the border, and Israel responds by bombarding Lebanese territory ever deeper, including carrying out targeted attacks against Hezbollah and Hamas officials. On Friday, the official Lebanese news agency ANI reported a "targeted raid carried out by an enemy drone (Israeli, editor's note) on a car" in Bazouriyé, near the coastal town of Tyre, reporting at least one death.
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Speaking on condition of anonymity, a Lebanese military source specified that the victim was "an important official of Hezbollah, Israel's nemesis. The Lebanese movement did not immediately comment on the attack but said it fired on Israeli military positions on the Israel-Lebanon border on Friday. According to an AFP correspondent on site, the targeted car was destroyed and debris was scattered all around. Authorities cordoned off the area.
Increase in attacks this week
Cross-border violence has intensified this week, sparking fears of widespread conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, who fought a devastating war in 2006. The White House said Thursday that a return to calm on the Israeli-Israeli border Lebanese should be "the highest priority".
On Wednesday, eleven civilians including ten rescuers were killed on the Lebanese side of the border by strikes attributed to Israel, and one civilian died on the Israeli side in bombings claimed by Hezbollah. Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas on October 7, at least 347 people have been killed in Lebanon - mostly Hezbollah fighters, but also at least 68 civilians -, according to an AFP count. On the Israeli side, ten soldiers and eight civilians were killed according to the army.