Israeli army continues drone warfare against Hezbollah

Smoke billows from the site of an Israeli airstrike on the outskirts of the southern Lebanese village of Ramiah on May 18, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
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  • Hezbollah said in a statement that it targeted the Ras Naqoura naval site with artillery in response to the drone strike

BEIRUT: Israel widened its drone attacks on Hezbollah and Hamas fighters in Lebanon on Saturday, with strikes near the Lebanese-Syrian border in parallel with attacks in the south of the country.

An Israeli combat drone struck a car carrying two people on the road between the Lebanese General Security and Syrian General Security checkpoints.

The Syrian Observatory confirmed the attack, saying that “the target in the car was a Hezbollah leader and his companion.”

Footage taken by passersby on the border road showed the vehicle on fire, with flames and smoke rising from surrounding areas, suggesting that more than one missile struck the target.

Sham FM radio, which is close to the Syrian regime, later confirmed that an Israeli attack destroyed a car and killed both occupants near a military checkpoint on the Damascus-Beirut highway.

Unconfirmed media reports said the military vehicle belonged to Hezbollah.

Hezbollah later launched dozens of attacks on Israeli military sites.

According to a statement, these included surveillance equipment at the Ramtha site, “technical systems and spy equipment at the Raheb site,” the headquarters of the Liman Battalion, surveillance equipment at the Hadab Yarin site, and the Al-Samaqa site in the Kfarshuba hills.

The latest attack came less than 18 hours after an Israeli drone struck a car on the Majdal Anjar road, killing a senior Hamas figure.

Izz El-Deen Al-Qassam Brigades identified the victim as Sharhabeel Ali Al-Sayyid, a mujahid leader.

Another person accompanying Ali Al-Sayyid was badly injured in the strike.

Early on Saturday, an Israeli drone struck a motorcycle on the road to Naqoura town on Lebanon’s southern border, injuring the rider, a fisherman returning home from work.

The injured man was taken to hospital in Tyre.

Hezbollah said in a statement that it targeted the Ras Naqoura naval site with artillery in response to the drone strike.

Repeated Israeli attacks have added to tension in the southern and Bekaa areas, with traffic on the main roads noticeably reduced.

Hezbollah also targeted a group of Israeli soldiers near the Pranit Barracks with missiles, causing “a direct hit,” according to the statement.

Israeli fighter planes raided the town of Khiam at dawn on Saturday, continuing their assaults on Aita Al-Shaab.